What is it with message related acronyms? Soon it will get to the point where we no longer communicate in real words but instead in abbreviated codes that require a thesaurus and a yearly subscription to the Economist to understand. Spare me. But don't leave me out of the loop. Which is where I'm at right now. I hardly ever use them for a start and now it seems that when I have, it's been in entirely the wrong context. Case in point: for years I've thought that 'lol' in an email means 'lots of love'. It makes sense doesn't it? No. My trusty acronym guide has just explained that it really means 'laugh out loud'. Laugh Out Loud! Which probably explains why my past few relationships have ended so damn abruptly. 'It'll be nice to see you on Saturday ... lol'. So innocent. So sincere. Yet, the implications have been severe. D'oh! With everything getting shorter, there's actually been research done that suggests that you can rearrange the letters of many words - and even delete them altogether - and our brains will still be able to process the bulk of them correctly. Ah, language. It's a curious beast. We use it every day of our lives, yet we still struggle to master it. Or perhaps I'm just thinking about it all too much. Time for a lie down I think. And a few moments of silence.

Leftfield electro and experimental pop from The Broken Social Scene. Bee Hives is essentially a collection of outtakes and B-sides, but again involves the breaking down of traditional song structures; the movement away from melody and towards rhythm as the crux of the arrangement; and the mix of conventional instrumentation (acoustic guitars/percussion) with futuristic synths. These are songs that defy conventional parameters. They skirt the pop ethic - occasionally bursting through a thick haze of ambient sound with classic chorus hooks. But generally it's more electro than anything else - reminiscent in parts of the work of producers such as Macromatics, Susumu and Godspeed You Black Emperor. It's atmospheric and moody, dripping with pathos and thoroughly immersed in its own beautiful little world.