The Null Device

Today's damage

I wandered down to PolyEster this afternoon, and saw the new Massive Attack CD. Nice packaging; though pity it's not available on a CD (only on one of those copy-restricted non-Red-Book-compliant CD-like things). Bugger that then.

(The label on the packaging says that it works with Windows, presumably in some "secure" DRM mechanism. I can understand us Linux-using nonpersons being snubbed by the recording racket ("get a copy of Windows, you bum!"), but EMI's big fuck-you to the Macintosh-using audience, especially on a Massive Attack disc, is harder to justify. Let's hope they change their minds before releasing the next Morrissey record.)

(Btw, is 100th Window released in Red Book-compliant, non-"copy controlled" CD format in any other territories?)

I did, however, pick up the new Architecture in Helsinki album, Fingers Crossed. The packaging is very cool, and on first listen (six tracks in), it sounds pretty good, in a garage-indie-pop-meets-electronica vein. Some of the tracks sound a bit unpolished (though that's probably deliberate), though there are some real gems; especially Scissors Paper Rock; expect to hear that in one of my DJ sets, possibly next to some Stereolab or something.

(Btw, what is it about Casio-wielding indie bands naming songs after games? You had Lacto-Ovo's Bingo, Ninetynine's Cluedo and Uno, and now AIH have joined the trend.)

I also picked up Stereolab's Cobra and Phases Group... while I was there. With that, my Stereolab collection has doubled in size over the past week.

There are 7 comments on "Today's damage":

Posted by: mrsmalkav http:// Sat Feb 8 06:40:06 2003

(Btw, is 100th Window released in Red Book-compliant, non-"copy controlled" CD format in any other territories?)-- uhm... well, given that it appeared on my computer in electronic format, i'm assuming that it's non-"copy controlled" at least somewhere!

Posted by: acb http://dev.null.org Sat Feb 8 06:43:47 2003

I think that was an advance copy which got leaked onto the networks. I'd be interested in finding an unprotected consumer copy. If people in locked-down territories start boycotting the local copies and mail-ordering it from where it's unlocked, maybe EMI will take the hint and sack the idiot who decided to screw their paying customers.

Posted by: Graham http://grudnuk.com Sat Feb 8 11:39:16 2003

The funny thing was that back in September I saw a "not for sale" preview copy of Peter Gabriel's _Up_ in a shop in Canberra which did have a "this CD cannot be played on computers" thingo, though the release version was Red-book compliant.

I wonder how many sales EMI will lose through being paranoid arseholes.

I was wondering about that, since the Nick Cave record (out on EMI via Virgin via Mute) didn't appear to have any of that bullshit on it.

Posted by: Graham http://grudnuk.com Sat Feb 8 11:41:26 2003

As for the Stereolab, /Cobra and Phases Group/ is probably my favourite album of theirs, though it takes even longer to get into than the usual 'lab album.

Posted by: acb http://dev.null.org Sat Feb 8 12:00:48 2003

Cool. I think my current favourite is ETK.

I'm told that US releases are generally less likely to be copy-restricted, because of some silly thing about Americans having rights they're likely to sue about or something. Can any US readers confirm whether 100th Window is clear in the States?

Posted by: Jim Wed May 21 10:30:59 2008

Just saw this tag on the internet searching for my former band (former member of Lacto Ovo) Don't do it often - I assure you.

Three members of Lacto Ovo have just formed a new band called Capgras Family. Have myspace site: www.myspace.com/capgrasfamily

Posted by: Jim Wed May 21 10:31:19 2008

Just saw this tag on the internet searching for my former band (former member of Lacto Ovo) Don't do it often - I assure you.

Three members of Lacto Ovo have just formed a new band called Capgras Family. Have myspace site: www.myspace.com/capgrasfamily