Record return

Never mind the iPod, the coolest way to listen to your favourite band at the moment is 7-inch vinyl. Sales of the little black discs are increasing as indie rockers like Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes release singles in a format their fans' grandparents will find reassuringly familiar.

Never mind the iPod, the coolest way to listen to your favourite band at the moment is 7-inch vinyl. Sales of the little black discs are increasing as indie rockers like Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes release singles in a format their fans' grandparents will find reassuringly familiar.

We shouldn't be surprised. Retro chic has always been with us. Even flares had a (brief) revival a few years ago. And in the sage words of the archetypal indie rocker, Bruce Springsteen: "Everything that dies, some day comes back." Perhaps one day, many years from now, record companies will decide to release some music on that long-defunct novelty format known as the "CD". The kids will love it.