‘Last Fm?’ I shrugged, ‘Never heard of it’, a look of sheer horror spread across my friends face ‘ I am shocked I would have thought you of all people would have known about it’ an insult and a compliment in one.

Having bizarrely never heard of last.fm I felt it was time to do some well informed research into the latest cyber music sensation that had apparently exploded and was on a par with 'Myspace' as the best virtual way of finding new music.

What could possibly be so great about this apparently majestic music site? Well according to a friend it metaphorically searches through your brain, learns your musical taste and then recommends artists it thinks you will love, whilst also offering you a personal radio station based on your tastes.

Sounds great, my only problem with this is that I find the art of a computer system configuring you a new list of music slightly mind numbing, I feel a sense that I have sold my soul to the devil, to a world where I can be figured out by a computer system.

Maybe it’s my arrogance that wants to say to the computer (with no brain) ‘How dare you assume to know what I like or do not like, YOU’RE NOT REAL’ Being analysed and evaluated by something that consists of bits of plastic, a few wires and a chip is somewhat worrying to me, or am I just digging my heels too hard into a soil that was replaced by a new modernised flooring system long ago?

Living in a consumerist society where we can all be bracketed into a target market or rated on our credit worthiness without our knowledge is bound to spread into other areas of our life. Despite this somewhat negative view on the site I willingly signed up.

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised, the site had a friendly welcoming feel to it, but what I really wanted to know was just how good it would be at suggesting new bands and artists. After entering what I would consider as a varied array of my favourite music, from ‘Fleetwood Mac’, ‘Van Morrison’, and ‘The Smiths’ to ‘MGMT’, ‘Soulwax’, and ‘The Mouldy Peaches’, I eagerly awaited my new music that was to be served to me on a virtual plate.

The result..... Annoyingly, rather accurate. I have to admit that last.fm did manage to tap into my musical taste to a rather irritatingly, impressive level. I tried to ‘Out smart’ last.fm by purposefully not entering certain artists of the moment that I love to see if they would recommend them, and you’ve guessed they did, some of which were ‘Lightspeed Champion’, and ‘Does it offend you yeah?

Outsmarted and impressed, so last.fm knows its stuff. I’ve got to give it to them, for anyone who is constantly on the look out for new music last.fm must surely be the latest cyber accessory you cannot afford to live without.

So where does this leave me? Does the devil now own my soul? Am I now just a Username and Password?

My conclusion is of this, the world is changing, fact. Technology has happened and will continue to happen and expand, so accept it, and make the most of it, but don’t forget about the good stuff, the real stuff, magazines made of paper, gigs where you can actually see the band play and feel the energy of the crowd, record stores where you can loose yourself for an afternoon and be reminded of how it all began. A balance is what I believe is the answer, everything in moderation, last.fm is great but it is easily consumable and I don’t think that anyone can argue with the fact that the satisfaction of discovering new music is much sweeter when you work for it.

Emily Dymond