Despite its thrilling sonic diversity, the second Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award long-list, announced today, exhibits some common themes.
"Were there even 50 Scottish albums released in 2012?" That has pretty much been the response every time I've mentioned that I've been assembling a list of favourites for an end-of-year feature.
Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells aren't men to rest upon their laurels.
Glasgow venue Nice N Sleazy has a lot to answer for.
Did you hear the one about the art collective, the professor and the polymath?