"Digital recording is wonderful. I am now convinced that it is an utterly marvellous thing, a type of technology that is at exactly the right stage.

"The reason is that it has reached the point where multitrack is too expensive for almost everybody. Only those with huge record company advances can afford it, and therefore this puts digital multitrack out of reach.

"Digital audio is so worthwhile, though, that even two-track is better than the conventional analogue system. So all those bands without a lot of money are forced to record direct to digital two-track.

"Hence, we find the immediacy and exhilaration of performances captured virtually live has, by necessity, returned to recording.

"It has regained the excitement and the danger of early recording, the sense that any mistakes you make are actually going to appear in the final product.

"It brings the wheel full circle, back to a situation where the artist has to produce the goods and what you hear is what occurred at that precise moment.

"Multitracking is the curse of modern music. I am convinced that the ability to erase any mistakes and layer on overdub after overdub of perfect playing has laundered music completely clean of any interest or excitement.

"Twenty-four, or worse still, forty-eight track analogue recording has sterilised music. However, digital stereo recording, the Sony PCM system, is now forcing artists who want to keep up with technology to record direct to stereo.

"At last, technology has reached a stage where once again we can hear real performances. Mind you, it won't last. The price of digital multitrack will drop, and then everybody will be able to afford it.

And the musicians will again put overdub after overdub on their records, which will be a great tragedy."

During the whole of this speech, Thomas had continued to gaze at the pink elephant with a glee normally reserved for icons to major saints and pools winning coupons.

Then his face changed. Some thought of momentous importance had obviously implanted itself in his impressive cranium.

He continued to regard the elephant closely for several seconds. Then he stared at the waitress, by now returning from the table.

"I don't suppose," he ventured, "you've got any penguins, have you?"