It's nice to be too busy to write a news update, but that's a pretty feeble excuse. So, long overdue, here it is... The Deborah Bonham 'Live in Malta' DVD is finished. We mixed it here at the Sonic Cuisine and Ryan at Raw made it look fantastic. Things on the mastering front have been cooking as well. In fact, I've found myself working with two generations of Bonhams, thanks to Sound Discs, as I mastered the splendid new album 'Lust for Life' from The Zimmers, featuring Joan Bonham, Deborah's Mum! It's great stuff, so look out for it. Other mastering jobs from Sound Discs included a new album from Katie Owen called 'Coming on Strong' and Andy Brentnall's delightful EP 'Quite Acoustic'. Andy's EP was produced by the legendary Mo Foster, who also contributed mandolin, acoustic guitar, bass and double bass, in his inimitable style. Talking of Mo Foster, look out for his gorgeous 'Time to Think' album on Angel Air Records - I remastered the album and mixed the bonus track, 'Puddy's Theme'. Elliott Randall was kind enough to recommend me to his old friend Marty Kupersmith, and I have just finished mastering his album which is winging its way to New York as I write. Elliott and I also worked together on a couple of tracks for an American charity Christmas album, which was very festive for me and my Brauner Valvet. Peter Bullick at Sound Discs also recommended me to his friend Stuart Muff from Megafan Records, who was launching Chaka Khan's Grammy-winning new album 'Funk This' in the UK. This meant that I got to do her live sound at Paper Club for the launch party, at Zavvi in Oxford Street and for her appearance on ITV's 'Loose Women'. I had a great time doing FOH for Exit Ten at the Kerrang Awards 2008 Week of Rock as well as on tour with the wonderful 36 Crazyfists, including a storming appearance at the Download Festival.

One of the highlights of the summer for me was the rebirth, for one night only, of the notorious Batcave Club, masterminded by and featuring Jon Klein who appeared as part of the 1983 line-up of goth pioneers Specimen. A bizarrely dressed crowd packed out Vauxhall's Coliseum club, which had undergone a spooky transformation for the occasion. I was fortunate enough to be at the controls FOH, and have just finished mastering the live recording, mixed by Tom Dalgety. As a result of this hugely successful event, Specimen have been booked to appear at the Whitby Goth Weekend on Hallowe'en weekend - I can't wait!

I'm also delighted to report that after months of disruption following a break-in, The Sonic Cuisine is now back in the garden studio here in Shepherds Bush, and I've acquired some great new gear as well, including: An API Lunchbox and Euphonix MC Mix; Walter Samuel at Sound Network let me try out some DPA 4061 mics and china cones for my Genelecs and they're fantastic; we have Logic 8, Focusrite Liquid Channel and Liquidmix, ProTools 7.4.2 LE and terrific new mastering software in the form of Sonic Studio's PMCD. Wembley Loud Speakers fixed my Auratones so I can reference mixes Quincy Jones style. Last but by no means least, I've been using those DPA 4061's on a shoot for a short film called "What Shall We do With the Drunken Sailor?"starring Siobhan Fahey, featuring Donny Tuorette in a cameo role, directed by Chris Ward and shot by the multi-talented Jon Klein. Hope you enjoy the photographic evidence of some of these episodes from my recent working life.... Wes