Charlie - from Jackal and Wolf contacted me a few days back. He asked me if we could make their music available on our Freedom Toaster. I was quite surprised since he is the first artist with such a request. Of course the music will be available on the toaster - as soon as the upgrade is done - in the meantime you are welcome to pick up Charlie’s free & open music at the cafe - all you need to do is ask and you can leave with your own copy of the Cathedral and the bazaar.
From the band’s myspace page :
Commerce versus art; capital greed or creative freedom; the cathedral and the bazaar…inspired as much by philosophy as the need to make a very loud noise, Jackal+Wolf are not your run-of-the-mill rock band out looking for kicks, chicks and the mighty moolah.
Exploding on to the local rock scene, this new power-trio featuring Charlie Murder on vox and guitar, with brothers Morgan and Redge O’Kennedy on drums and bass, are more intent on creating great tunes and playing them live than topping the charts, a refreshing change from the hit-obsessed mentality that pervades modern music.
The band’s intent is immediately obvious: not only is the title of their debut album, The Cathedral and the Bazaar, a tribute to the free music philosophy that inspires them, but the album is available for free download on the band’s website www.jackalandwolf.com, and the band have already pressed 1000 discs to give away at their upcoming gigs.
“The title of the album is originally from a book by open-source software exponent Eric Raymond,” explains frontman Charlie Murder, “and it refers to the concept of the cathedral representing commercial, corporate interests while the bazaar represents to complete creative freedom.”
The trio’s decision to remain independent and embrace the free music philosophy was sparked, in part, by their personal experiences in the industry: Charles and Morgan first met up as co-members of dark rock outfit Velve; the two brothers, meanwhile, had also teamed up previously in alt-rock outfit Ghost.
Also providing inspiration are the writings of free music agitators such as Ram Samudrala (www.ram.org/ramblings/philosophy/fmp/music_future.html) and alternative music producer Steve Albini (www.negativland.com/albini.html), along with the success of bands like Radiohead and Public Enemy who both embrace the free music philosophy.
Click to read on …
It’d be great to see other artists follow this example and make their work available on the toaster - it’s a whole new & free way of reaching fans & making your voice heard.
