Here as a special 13th Anniversary celebration of something that started brightly, and burned out equally so, is a free album containing some of my favourite tracks (and it was hard to choose) from the three issues of Em Writing and Music. Enjoy.

Track Listing: (links go to artist websites - see below for downloads)

01 Minibar -The Secret Life of Benny Hill (from em one) This was probably my luckiest find - a local band at the time who subsequently went on to some success in the US, appearing on the Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back soundtrack. An unbelievably catchy tune from a sound bunch of lads.

02 Kajue -Take The Pain (from em two) A North London hip-hop band fronted by the charismatic Obai Kajue. I can't find any mention of them on the web, presumably they have gone their separate ways. They were some cool cats, and welcomed me into their "posse" for the short time we worked together. Which, if you knew how much of a square I was, you would find remarkable..

03 Stoneblower - Cornock (from em three) A mysterious shadowy figure, his biog note reveals almost nothing, apart from the fact he used to be in a band called the Unsophisticates that released a couple of well-received EPs. Anyway, this is one of two of his excellent tracks on em three, and a stonker it is - I'm sure it could grace the opening credits of any action blockbuster.

04 J.A. Davies - They Ain't Rock and Rolling No More (from em three) An ex-miner suffering from a condition called vibration white finger, Mr. Davies wrote me a touching letter about his life, and the fact that in his dotage he liked nothing better to fire up his keyboard and write catchy songs. I think involvement with Em meant a great deal to him, and I'm glad I helped brighten up his days.

05 Wompa - Haze (from em three) One of the many side-projects from my prolific and talented friend Ade Firth - this is a belter. Very much of its time too. You rarely hear the term "trip-hop" any more, but at the time it was the wave of the future.

06 Adam's Family - Feel (from em one) I'm glad to see these happy goths are still keeping busy, though no longer functioning as a band. I really liked the Marianne Faithful vibe of the singer Jaki Florek's vocal stylings.

07 Co-Star - Frosby Flop (from em two) Bona-fide punk from these bad boys. In my recent googling I found a band of the same name touting themselves as a professional covers band. That isn't them. They have disappeared, probably in a hail of cider and vomit.

08 Adam Pretty and Guillaume Vetu - Chiara (from em two) An instrumental jazz interlude smoother than a seal smothered in baby oil. Or so I'm told.

09 Archie Bronson Outfit - Desert (from em three) These guys were quite the hot property on the alt-country-americana scene. It was most flattering for them to donate some of their dusty scratchy sounds for em three. Glad to see they are still doing their very good thing.

10 Telstarr - Starr (from em two) An old friend from university sent me the demo from his latest band - and it was really good! They are no more however. I think he is some kind of internationally reknowned plant professor, or something. I just googled him - crikey, he has a giant beard! I suppose it happens to us all, eventually. Hopefully not you, ladies.

11 Bandwagon Records - Beneath My Feet (from em three) This was part of the output of a musical cooperative somewhere in the southwest of England. It seemed like an interesting setup, but I can't find any mention of them now. And such a cheerfully optimistic little tune. Oh well.

12 Chassis - Doing Nothing (from em two) AKA Matt and Ben from Ramsgate. This was one of the several instances where I loved the demo I received initially, and on accepting it for publication, they sent me a new, glossily produced version. Which completely lacked the immediacy and passion of the original. But fortunately they were happy for me to use this version, which is a sparse and beautiful gem fresh from the indie garage.

13 Wendyhouse - Too Dumb (To Be Anything Else) (from em three) The bizarre art-punk project of itinerant genius Bryce "Mr Pudding" Galloway. No more needs to be said.

14 Angela Carrillo - Riverbank (from em one) The only possible way to describe this is "unforgettable". She really should be scoring films for David Lynch. I still find myself singing it involuntarily now. Amazing stuff. A gem.

15 Sewerside - New Deal Sessions 4 (from em three) This is not the outfit from Florida, but a great couple of guys from Devon.They DJ'd at one of our parties, and were truly splendid. No idea where they are now. Good luck to them, anyway.

16 David's Address - Monkey Mike (from em three) This tune gives me chills down my back. It completely encapsulated the spirit of Em: a glorious, passionate, mostly nonsensical, highly amateurish mess. The fact that I found it surfing around on the internet for songs with the word "Mike" in for my friend Mike, and I managed to track down the guys behind it, makes it even better.