There’s various theories about what ‘Lucky Pierre’ means (and the wiki entry doesn’t list one in particular), but for those of you not aware, L.Pierre is one of the monikers that Aidan Moffat records under. Over the years, he’s also recorded as part of The Sick Anchors (with Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai), with jazzman Bill Wells, as part of the scots indie collective The Reindeer Section, fronting his own band and of course, as one half of Arab Strap with Malcolm Middleton.

His latest release is an EP, Surface Noise, which has been described as being an affectionate tribute to the wear and tear of vinyl (I know there’s a growing trend in cassettes, fer Chrissakes, and there are American blokes who fetishise the 8-track cartridge, but I cannot see this happening with mp3s). Released on September 16, the six tracks are awesome. Don’t just take my word for it, go and buy it when it comes out.

Mr. Moffat has a way with melancholia and beauty that I can but marvel at. My first encounter with Arab Strap was hearing John Peel play ‘Here We Go’ on his show in 1998. From then on I bought as much of his stuff as I could. This included one of my most treasured 12″ singles, the Bis remix of ‘Turbulence’* and yet somehow I never managed to see them live before they split in 2006. I did, however, manage to interview Malcolm Middleton in 2007. I’d love to interview Aidan Moffat too…

* Strange story. Nearly ten years ago, I was DJing at Fopp in Edinburgh for the launch night of Sons & Daughters’ Love The Cup album. This remix was playing when Sons & Daughters arrived. For reasons I do not know, the look that Ailidh Lennon gave me when she heard me playing that could have shattered glass (maybe she was sick of my gazing at her at gigs). I never knew why. I did lend Scott Paterson my guitar strap and he later gave me a beer backstage at a gig where Sons & Daughters played with Aberfeldy and the Fire Engines.