Burns night

London's burning, white riot, police and thieves, I fought the law (and the law won) - when did the news become the tracklisting of the Clash's debut album?

The mention of music isn't spurious, sadly. While homes, possessions and businesses have gone up in smoke, so - potentially - have a large swathe of the UK's independent record labels. The Sony DADC warehouse in Enfield, burned to the ground by rioters on Monday night with the loss of all stock, was also used by PIAS, the distributor for dozens of great indies including XL, Chemikal Underground, Memphis Industries, Domino and FatCat. While the records will have been insured, the length of time any pay-out will take to process and the repressing costs incurred in the meantime will inevitably be more than some smaller less financially secure labels can bear. So much for the rioters striking back against the Establishment and the rich. Viva la revolucion.

So what can be done, other than simply getting depressed or getting angry? Chemikal Underground and the Quietus have recommended showing your support by buying an album directly from one of the labels affected, though you could also visit your local independent record shop - assuming it's not been ransacked or torched too.