Executive producers

Lots of bands have gone down the Kickstarter route in terms of pre-emptively covering the cost of releasing albums (as opposed to shelling out and then hoping to recoup expenses through sales) but there probably aren't too many who've offered fans the opportunity to stay at the recording studio, witness the album being recorded and join the wrap party. A pledge of £400 would have got you a room at Rockfield Studios for two nights to be part of the recording of Six By Seven's new album, but it's now all fully booked. Rockfield has legendary status and is also a part of Six By Seven's own history, as the place where they recorded The Way I Feel Today, their best-selling LP (if not actually their best).

Fingers crossed they can get the additional £350 needed by 1st January to make the whole project happen. As I've said before, 2013's criminally ignored Love And Peace And Sympathy is, to my mind, their best album to date, so it's heartening to know that Chris Olley continues to retain faith in the band. However, former Placebo man Steve Hewitt, who was largely the catalyst for Love And Peace And Sympathy, no longer appears to be involved - instead, original drummer Chris Davis is back, joined by another tubthumper. Perhaps most significantly, though, it seems that keyboard player James Flower - Olley's longest-serving musical accomplice - won't feature on the new record. His synth tones/drones are so integral to the Six By Seven sound that, without him, they might be in danger of losing their identity.