of Montreal released a little manifesto the other day entitled ‘We Will Only Propagate Exceptional Objects’. In it they note the depersonalisation of the music buying process in these digital days. But instead of merely decrying the situation, they’ve attempted to offer up a new paradigm for music consumption. One in which people are enticed back to record stores to experience anew the physical joy of holding a new record in your hands.

Here’s how it works . . . the band’s forthcoming album – Skeletal Lamping – will be made available as a range of ‘exceptional objects’ which include the download codes for the album. These include fetching t-shirts, cool wall decals, bags, and badge sets. The designers – Gemini Tactics and The Bee With Wheels – have also designed CD and LP covers for those who prefer to hold the music in their hands.

All of which is cool. But what struck me was the ‘exceptional objects’ bit. It immediately brought Jyri Engestrom’s social objects theory to mind (the idea that people connect online because of an object – in Flickr the social object is photography, for example). I think the same principle is what will make The Skeletal Lamping Collection ’08 work.

As well as recapturing that ineffable sense of excitement of a physical music purchase, buyers also experience the feeling of exclusivity that comes with owning a limited edition object that connects them to the of Montreal ‘brand’. These objects in turn may help them forge new connections; their wall decal will be a talking point when guests come, their t-shirt likewise at a gig or whatever. Ultimately, I think what this does well is help make music social again.

This awesome little film was made by an Australian telecoms firm back in 1992 (pre-Netscape). It’s a remarkably prescient vision of networked communications:

Shared by Casper.

Trouble brewing in North Korea it would seem.

Leica today unveiled their first DSLR. Twice the operating speed of other DSLRs, 37.5 megapixels, and a sensor 56% larger than full frame. But most importantly, it looks like the most beautiful camera I’ve ever seen. No word on pricing yet but it’s estimated at around 15 thousand pounds for the house alone. More info here.

According to a message posted on their MySpace a few weeks ago Phoenix are back in the studio and hard at work on their fourth album. Alphabetical was a bit naff but United and It’s Never Been Like That are two of the finest records I own. Here’s ‘Rally’, from the latter:

Amazing photos from early Arctic expeditions.

(Via Kottke [who else?!])

In 1991 Joni Mitchell released an album called Night Ride Home which might well be one of the most accomplished albums I’ve ever heard. This is the closing track; a wistful tale of unrequited, perhaps obsessive love.

Copenhagen is all aflutter at the mo with the recent spate of shootings. Apparently there’s some sort of turf war going on between the Hells Angels and local immigrant youths. A fair few of the shootings have taken place in my old street – Jægersborggade – which has long been regarded as a biker gang hangout. I don’t think I ever saw any motorbikes there though. It’s actually a really charming street with lots of cool little boutiques and coffeeshops. There were usually a few young shaven-headed pot dealers hanging around but it never felt unsafe. I reckon Denmark is probably the only place in Western Europe with streets plagued by drive-bys one day and farmers’ markets the next.

While the recent incidents appear mostly drug-related, I think they are indicative of Denmark’s social divide. Anyone with non-white skin is seen as an ‘immigrant’, even if they were born here. Copenhageners are mostly liberal, extremely accepting people who have an understanding of the wider world. They realise that integration efforts here are insufficient, and they are aware that more needs to be done. But nothing does seem to get done. I am not on first-name terms with anyone who is not white. And in the almost three years I have lived here, I have become more and more uncomfortable about the ‘them and us’ nature of this society.

Anyone have any thoughts?

I imagine Mark David Ashworth lives a solitary kind of life. Lots of time contemplating, waking in sweltering hotel rooms in Central American cities, occasional sojourns home, writing, reading , wondering. His album, Viceroy, is haunting and enchanting, and kind of spellbinding. Here’s the video for Eggs, one of the standout tracks:

Beautiful and evocative Copenhagen architecture shots from Kim Høltermand. The shot above is of the reasonably new Skuespilhus (school for actors). Very Danish, but also very contemporary. Clean lines, bold but also harmonious.