For some tormented souls, the term "Summer Music" will conjure up lurid notions of daft Europop in naff discos; for others, the grim sceptre of Bangin Eye-Beef-A Choons may be raised. But for me, "Summer Music" has always meanst sinuous, sultry, low-slung grooves, wafting through an open window on a hot, dark, sticky night. As such, it has long been one of my very favourite musical aesthetics.

On one such night earlier in the week, I stayed up past my bedtime in order to compile my submission to the Summer Burn 2004 project, as hosted by the guys at FunJunkie.

(Simple, effective concept. Burn a summer-themed CD; send it to two random participants as selected by the organisers; receive CDs of new music from two other random particpants; hey presto, everyone's a winner.)

Inevitably, since I seem to be congenitally unable to do anything by halves, this ended up being a 2CD compilation. Here's the track listing. For maximum effect, do not play until after nightfall.

Being a list of the twenty tunes - some old, some new - which are currently enjoying the heaviest rotation on the stereo / on the 'puter / in the car / inside my head.

1. phoenix - holding on together
2. caetano veloso - soy loco por ti, america
3. youssou n'dour - cheikh ibra fall
4. kelis - trick me
5. kanye west/syleena johnson - all fall down
6. style council - long hot summer
7. jc chasez - all day long i dream about sex
8. emma - crickets sing for anamaria
9. prince - illusion, coma, pimp & circumstance
10. ojos de brujo - tiempo de soleá
11. harpers bizarre - witchi tai to
12. faithless - i want more
13. magazine - a song from under the floorboards
14. girls aloud - the show
15. esther phillips - disposable society
16. usha uthup & chorus - one two cha cha cha
17. company b - fascinated
18. one blood - be thankful for what you got
19. scissor sisters - laura
20. ce'cile - hot like we

What's currently Number One in your personal chart?

Glory be. After a 24-hour period of downtime, troubleddiva.com has been fully resurrected. Apologies for the blip (a long and boring story - don't ask), and thanks to those of you who helpfully posted a link to the short-lived Emergency Blogspot Service.

Order is restored. Let peace and harmony reign throughout the land.

You find me here under somewhat reduced circumstances: trotting meekly back into the arms of Blogspot, with a sheepish, hang-dog expression on my face.

Blogspot... dear, sweet, faithful old Blogspot. God, but I've been such a bloody, bloody fool.

Blinded, I was. Blinded by the cheap glamour of a personal domain. They said you were dowdy... flabby... past your prime. They said I was too good for you... that I had "outgrown" you. How wrong I was to listen. How terribly, terribly wrong. Can you find it in your heart to take me back?

(Yeah, that should just about do the trick. I picked up some flowers from the garage on the way home, as well. They like that sort of thing.)

Basically - and I shan't bore you with the details just yet - a protracted Episode with my web hosting providers has resulted in me being temporarily homeless, as of this morning. For now - and against fairly massive evidence to the contrary - I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. However, if I'm still shacked up here in a couple of days time, then the Name & Shame phase of the operation will come into play. Oh yes.

Although I think I've fixed everything on the front page of the site, there will inevitably be a few broken links knocking around the place. I respectfully crave your indulgence in this matter.

(Now, where are my old slippers?)

Update: Yeah, whatever. See ya, Blogspot.
When will I be back? Dunno. Don't wait up.
Oh, don't give me that look. You know I hate it when you do that.

*slam*