Declare independence...

I read one of the most heartwarming music-related stories the other day. No, it had nothing to do with Leona Lewis getting to Number One in the States (who, incidentally, is looking remarkably healthy considering she has been constantly whining about how she "keeps bleeding" for the last four bleeding months).

No, the punch-the-air-in-delight tale I refer to is the reopening of The Polar Bear record shop in York Road, Kings Heath. Now, I've got to admit I've never even set foot inside the place or have any connections with it.

But, while this may read suspiciously like a free plug, my point is it's great to read about an independent record shop still fighting the good fight and trying to compete with the big chain stores and supermarkets.

In my hometown of Walsall, we lost both Sundown and Bridge Records within months of each other in 2005. Sundown's closure in particular was a sad moment as I'd spent hundreds in there and had been going regularly since my early teens. Then a year later, Reddington's Rare Records shut up shop in Birmingham. Thing is none of these could compete with the bigger chain or supermarkets who could buy in bulk and sell CDs cheaer. Add the growing internet market and it meant bye bye independents, while the soulless big boys carried on.

Now, I was always prepared to pay a little extra at Sundown. They were flexible enough to offer good deals off the cuff, they'd order stuff in for you without tutting and sometimes throw in some free goodies to us regulars. Plus, as a music geek, I felt more comfortable dealing with fellow enthusiasts rather than say, a chain store employee. I once went into a Virgin store and asked exactly when an imminent Nirvana singles boxset was being released and I was told they weren't aware one was being released!

We hear about campaigns to support corner shops or local greengrocers, but no one seems to care that independent record shops are becoming so extinct that David Attenborough will be making a documentary lamenting their demise.

So I wish Polar Bear owner Steve Bull the very best of luck following the reopening of his newly refurbished shop and this will be one independent store that doesn't bite the dust.

*Recommended listening: what else but "Declare Independence" by Bjork, off her superb latest album Volta. And the Icelandic pop pixie will be at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on April 25 - result! Check out the track and several others on her MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/bjork