As part of my job I am always on the look out for new, original or different music. Variety is the spice of life I am told, and certainly in terms of music, I find that very often a cover version of a song or a remix can add a whole new dimension to our enjoyment of a tune, or turn a song perhaps we didn't like so much into an epic tune we remember for years.

Anyone that knows me really well will know that Coldplay are one of my all time favourite bands. There are a few, who's work I follow passionately, and who's concerts I attend in some kind of groupie mentality! Erm...... No not the kind of groupie for crying out loud!

Actually I am not even sure if there is more than one kind of groupie! Perhaps what I should have said was that I attend as many concerts as I can, as any loyal fan would! Yes.... That sounds much better! Although I won't deny that the idea of a roll in the hay with a few of them wouldn't go amiss!

Alas I digress from my original train of thought.

So yeah, as a massive Coldplay fan, on their release of Paradise, possibly one of my favourite tunes ever, I promptly set out on production of a show that would profile the impact of Coldplay's music on the world, and we undertook a lot of research as a result, interviewing fans, speaking with professionals and industry experts, and looking for unique and interesting covers of Coldplay's work.

Enter Mike Tompkins. In my hunt for something very unique, I came across this guy, and I was instantly amazed by his authentic and completely creative approach to making music. The more I listened to this guys stuff, the more intrigued I became, and the more intrigued I became the more I really liked what I was listening too.

Mike Tompkins is one of those people that takes an art form and pushes the boundaries far beyond the scope of normality and creates something new and beautiful. He's used the concept of beat-boxing and taken it to a whole new level of existence. Some people might suggest that there is nothing fanciful or ingenious about copying another's work, but I'd challenge that. This is not a reproduction with instruments, computers and digital synthesisers. No this is someone recreating something we enjoy with nothing more than his mouth, and doing it really well in my opinion.

Indeed I think the word talented fits well with what Mr Mike Tompkins does. He is providing us with a completely new experience and having a lot of fun along the way. I take my hat off to the guy, and hope that like me, you get as much enjoyment out of taking a listen as I did.

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Thought for today - "Aerodynamically the Bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the Bumblebee doesn't know this, so it continues to fly anyway!" - Mary Kay Ash