I can’t help but remain optimistic and joyful when i read stories like this one. Already released in it’s entirety online (NPR)—boasting such collaborators as Sparklehorse, Iggy Pop, members of The Pixies and The Stroke, with appropriately spooky visual contributions by David Lynch—this album is rich and moving, and a definite step forward in Danger Mouse’s sonic ®evolution. But as important as the music, is the story:
It has already been streamed online, but Billboard magazine said a “legal dispute” with EMI derailed the project.
Danger Mouse…said he hoped people would still get to hear the record.
A spokesperson for the producer said: “Danger Mouse remains hugely proud of Dark Night of the Soul and hopes that people lucky enough to hear the music, by whatever means, are as excited by it as he is.”
He added that the album, which comes with a limited edition, “100+ page book” of David Lynch photographs inspired by the music “will now come with a blank, recordable CD-R”.
“All copies will be clearly labelled: ‘For Legal Reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.’”
Frankly, i’m not surprised, Danger Mouse is notoriously sample-happy as anyone who’s heard The Grey Album will know (so this is not his first kerfuffle with EMI). Clearly the intent here is for you to buy a blank CD, download the album and burn it your-damn-self. What i find so inspiring is artists taking fresh and extraordinary measures to ensure that their music gets heard. Not even concerned with getting paid (because if the thing is available for download…) but just focused on creating, and getting it out there. Oh and i also really appreciate the giant Eff-Ewe to the entire recording industry here.
As our world continues to barrel inexorably into the unknown, i would just like to take this opportunity to thank the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs …”
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Danger Mouse to release blank CD.