My latest addiction, since managing to purloin a broadband connection from an unsuspecting neighbour, is the BBC's Radio 6, known as "6 Music".

This is a digital radio station, available on the UK's digital radio system, and online.

Those of you in the US who are tired of the same old commercial-ridden formulaic shite, pumped out by Clearchannel clones all over the US, should give it a listen.

You'll hear a startlingly refreshing mix of pop, rock and electronica, featuring bands you're familiar with, and some that you've never heard of. What's more, there are no commercials.

The presenters are intelligent, seasoned broadcasters which their fingers on the pulse of new, quality music. Musician Tom Robinson is one of them. A full list is here.

One of the things that is not so good about living in Denver, is keeping yourself informed of new music. The radio stations here are incredibly formula-driven, compartmentalised by musical genre, and absolutely shit-scared of taking any kind of risk, such as might be involved in playing something, a little different.

The only near exception to this is 99.5 The Mountain, who apparently take to playing entire albums, if they think it's what listeners want. One breakfast time, they played a whole side of The Beatles' White Album, for example. But even The Mountain has to play commercials to fund itself. The BBC does not.

The streaming signal will work over dial-up, but really broadband is recommended.