Saturday, March 9, 2013

THE END OF AN ERA

So this is where I get to tell you everything you never wanted to hear me say. While it's been a fantastic ride and I hope everyone has enjoyed it, the recent news that issues pertaining to copyright online are now being re-interpreted by the powers-that-be in alarming new ways means that there's no point in pushing this boulder up a hill any longer. Mutant Sounds' original founder Jim is in full agreement with my sentiments and everything except for the texts has now been deleted. I understand this is really crushing news for many and I sympathize with your pain but I also hope you can see why the time has now come to call it a day.

Thanks to every one of you that have expressed your enthusiasm and moral support for Mutant over the years. I'm convinced that this music and a better understanding of it and its historical place will continue to spread, as it's been circulating around out there for some time now, so a thousand other platforms await your own able hands and intentions. My texts (those on the posts put up by vdoandsound) at least still reside under my control and thus they are now deemed anti-copyright and you are free to spread them far and wide, though proper attribution on these would obviously be appreciated when they're used.

For those who would like to be kept abreast of Vas Deferens Organization activity, a twitter account will be launched shortly to keep everyone interested up to date and to periodically hand out free material that we own.

89 comments:

Hingehead said...

Crushed - thanks for all your efforts

Doug S. said...

Given the deep respect and appreciation for MS throughout the sharing community, I imagine this decision will precipitate similar decisions elsewhere. I can't blame you or anyone who goes this route. This repository has been an historic achievement. While I lament the loss, I have hours of listening to past Mutant offerings to look eternally forward to. Many thanks.

litlgrey said...

Ack! Oh my god!!

seenky said...

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
Ach well, it's been a good ride. Massive thanks to you and Jim for all the frankly fantastic music you've helped spread over the years. You've certainly opened my eyes to oodles of music I wouldn't have heard otherwise. Like you say hopefully the Mutant faithful will continue to spread the good word elsewhere.
Arrathebest doods. x

Rope and Pulley Records said...

Thank you very much for sharing some of the best music I've ever heard. Your hard work has had a big influence on my work and life.

Anonymous said...

Goodby and thanks for the fish ;-)

Stiev A.

Anonymous said...

RIP Mutantsounds

SinAgog said...

Your legacy will continue to resonate into the future, I'm sure- on SoulSeek or elsewhere.

A thousand salaams for leaving such a large, characterful dent in my music-listening habits. I can't remember whether the first time I encountered you guys was via a search for a sub-NWW List Eastern-European electronic gem or the perfectly warped mutant poppiness of Steaming Coils, but I'm glad I got the few years in your company I did.

Good luck whatever you do, and I'm sure even with this website out of action this mutant genome you've created will continue to spread and osmose until you've got an entire standing army of willing mutants on your hand. Then we'll be the ones calling the shots.

jb said...

Mutant Sounds has been a fantastic achievement and a massive thanks to all involved. At least a lot of what you've put up can still be found on soulseek.

Jeffrey Filla said...

Drat. I haven't been regularly keeping up with your blog in recent years, but I meant to catch up one of these days. In the early days, you turned me on to a couple of real gems that I ended up buying (Persona's "Som" was one that I just listened to this week). I've also sold at least a dozen records for higher prices because of the increased demand for them that your blog caused. I'm guessing that in some cases the attention you've brought some releases has led them to be officially reissued. Well thanks. Now, if there were any posts that you removed because you couldn't share the MP3, you should at least put the text back up.
- Jeff

Erick Bradshaw H said...

Understandable, but sad as hell. Top inductee into the Blog Hall of Fame.
Good luck with VDO and everything else.

Anonymous said...

job well done

burntoutsavannahs said...

oh what a sad day comrades, but an understandable one. you have been a guiding light for many of us out here in these dark days now that the owl no longer flies the night skies. thank you for everything you have done for our community. you shall be sorely missed amigos.

ryan/spookcityusa

GH said...

Maybe a Mutant Sounds torrent community could arise to keep these things live and active and catalog new things?

Jon said...

That's lame as hell but thanks for introducing me to Reversible Cords I guess

Jakob von Gunten said...

I will always be indebted. Thank you so much for sharing all these treasures.

Dave Public said...

Crushed, but I understand.
Are you planning on keeping all the posts up as an archive? Please please say you are, because even without the links, the site serves as an indispensable resource for some of the greatest music I've ever been graced with.
Thanks for the years of tireless work, the hundreds of hours of otherwise unknown sounds, the brilliant and insightful commentary, everything.
Very sad to see the end of what has likely been my favorite thing on the internet for the last half decade.
You will be missed.

Dave Public said...

Also, I'd be willing to fork over hard $$ for a kickstarter to publish the entire MS archive as a book, as I'm sure many others would.
THINK ABOUT IT!!

Unknown said...

Being a blogger I can appreciate your decision. Just having access to the reviews is still great for us hardcore vinyl collectors who seek out your obscurities on the best format available - vinyl. You guys were the standard by which others were measured by. Good luck in your future travels.

splash said...

Thanks for the exposure to music that I never new existed. I am convinced that every music enthusiast
eventually starts having similar interests once they get exposed to a broad platform of sound.

Since many of the postings were very limited presses, it was nice to let the sound artists display their craft in the digital arena.

Most of the recordings seem rare/expensive, however I recently searched the Frank David Selection lp at discogs. I found that it is

a $15-20 lp and available on the intraweb. Looks like your blog is going to generate a record purchase for me. Ditto for F/i and Vocokesh.

Thanks for all your time and the assistance of others who came in recently to get posts re-upped.
Would much rather you shut down the site than pad lawyers and the legal system. fuck that

I will keep your spirit in mind as I continue to listen to the mutant posts as my earthlife continues to progress/digress (55 and gray haired)

mecanosaurio said...

thanks for everything and good luck!

Danny Snelson said...

Truly the End of an Era. Can't thank you enough — on its best days, this enterprise made the internet worthwhile! Spinning Songs For A Party on A Mutant Beach across the volumes in celebration (in memoriam).

Xhrs!
j.h c

Anonymous said...

Any links available on the upcoming online copyright laws?

Anonymous said...

From someone who has struggled with every aspect of this kind of music blog and struggled with the issues around it, and finally wound up calling it quits, you have my condolences You also have my praise. Mutant Sound was one of the best, one of the few to understand that just ripping and posting a record is bullshit. If the music creates passion, words an research should follow. You guy set your own bar high and met it. Congrats on a great run
Scott S
Crud Crud

Roddus said...

I am unaware of recent developments in the re-interpretations of online copyright,Some clarity on this would be informative, but this is a massive blow to the exposure of rare and obscure music. If it wasn't for blogs like Mutant Sounds, hundreds of thousands of great lost albums would have remained only known to a select few.
I remember reading that only about 18% of all music released commercially remains in print at any one time. At least the info on the music you have shared remains with us. I have discovered many albums over the last few years that i have gone on to purchase(when possible)buy being able to listen to them from blogs.

Bugger.

Anonymous said...

Having followed the blog since its first posts (Peter Frohmader!), I thank you both for stretching my musical tastes and for years of aural enrichment.

Good luck with VDO and any other pursuits.

And if you decide to return, our ears will be ready to tune back in.

Dave

Anonymous said...

so long and thanks for all the fi-- music :)

Myles said...

I just wanted to share with you and the other readers what exactly this little blog has meant to me. I discovered Mutant at a very dismal time in my life. I was going through a variety of personal problems and found very little that I was connecting to musically. This site opened the doorways for me to explore unlimited talent that I would've never found out about any other way. I've carried this blog with me through the years and any one of my friends can attest to how much I talk about all of the musical discoveries I have unearthed here. I'll never forget the feeling of seeing new posts and the excitement that followed. That being said, I think with all of the trouble with files getting deleted over and over, we knew this wouldn't last forever. So now that's done, all I wish to say is 'thank you'. Thank you for the hours and hours of hard work, dedication and perseverance, and for sustaining such consistent high-quality content over the years. Thank you Jim, Eric and all of the amazing and incredible artists that have been featured here. Saying goodbye is not easy for me, but I will always think of this site and the hours that I've spent here with complete fondness, for the fact that a site like this lasted as long as it did is a feat onto itself. Thank you Mutant Sounds! It's been a wild ride, and I'm happy that I managed to hang on with you as long as i could. Love forever
-Myles

tek said...

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGH---

the internet is committing suicide and i am shattered. i've been with you for over five years and i am sorry that i didn't leave more than a dozen comments on the thousands of posts i read and hundreds of albums i still enjoy. my deepest gratitude are yours. i'll keep this url in my rss feed just in case the cosmos shifts and the jedi's return, until then may the force be with you, live long and prosper.

FM SHADES said...

you guy's were the best! RIP

we're still alive for now,
http://fm-shades.blogspot.ca/

someone needs to start a killer underground torrent site with the Mutant Archive and more... Who's got a server?!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing so many gems i would otherwise have been unaware of. Good luck with all your future endeavours,

David

Magas said...

Thank you very much for the years of enlightenment. Good luck with everything.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for everything ever. Fuck DCMA

Anonymous said...

thanks for everything

Rochacrimson said...

The place that i discovered the krautrock and the zeuhl.Many thanks for all this fantastic work in last years.
Sad moment :-(

Anonymous said...

Will someone who has the albums Nyl (http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2007/04/nyl-st-lp-1976-france.html) & YVES ET ALAIN LORENTZ-ESPACES 2 (http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2007/03/yves-et-alain-lorentz-espaces-2-lp-1981.html) PLEASE send them to my e-mail. I can be contacted at Nights_In_White_Satin77@Yahoo.com I MUST HEAR THESE. THANK YOU SO MUCH

Bernard Grancher said...

Revolting!!
All that work for nothing!

I am disgusted.
I hope it will not destroy you again.

Best regards

Bernard

daniel70 said...

Your work has been truly Herculinic, and has definitely altered the face of music as it is today, by altering the face of music as we thought it was - but was decisively not, or at least not only, due to all the itinerant and oblique perspectives on the history of 'popular' music that you have offered...
(If this makes any sense...)
Truly Herculinic!

With the greatest respect, Daniel

daniel70 said...

Furthermore, I am interested to know what are the specific alarming new reinterpretations of issues pertaining to copyright online? Has something recently occured to induce this dramatic decision of Mutant Sounds?

Kind regards, and all the best, Daniel

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the effort over the years, it's been quietly appreciated out here. Enjoyed it immensely.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the effort over the years. It's been quietly appreciated out here, enjoyed it immensely.

Anonymous said...

Hot damn. Well thanks for the memories. Or the songs, whatev. Totally respectable decision.

melt-apple said...

thanks for all the amazing shares over the years. yr presence will be greatly missed :(

gesticulador said...

So sad. Just wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful music you shared. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for you work. Your blog has done me more good than the "copyright holder" thieves who "own" some of my past less commercial work have ever accomplished.
Sorry to see you go.
CL

Matt said...

sad to see this day has finally come. thanks so much for all the work put into this blog. Mutant Sounds introduced me to entire universes of music that i was previously unaware of

Anonymous said...

Thankyou so, so much for all of your efforts.
MS was a massive musical education for me.

Vinylust said...

Words cannot express the gratitude my ears, brain and soul owe MS. Thx.

luke said...

thanks for using the internet as intended. I will always remember this beautiful thing and it will always hold a special place in my heart.
thanks for schooling me over and over, mutant sounds.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Luke

Mitch said...

I'm very sorry to hear this but I completely understand. Mutant Sounds played a huge part in getting material from the M Squared label re released. Thanks for all the wonderful effort over the years.

Nick said...

slsk room

Anonymous said...

thanks for keeping it up so long...so many introductions to so much varied music

Anonymous said...

Yes, it truly is an end of an era, but thanks to you & Jim for revealing and educating us on such great music, you will be missed.

DanP said...

<3

Anonymous said...

thank you so so much. this is and will always be a legendary place. i'll be checking this post to keep up with any developments regarding the torrent thing some people have already mentioned. will be glad to contribute to it.

CoverHeaven said...

:(

Edward said...

Ditto on everything that's been said, and more. Seared in my musical memory is the first time I listened to Ilitch's Ten Suicides, which was one of the early items I got from your blog. I am eternally grateful...

William III said...

In retrospect, the Bush years were the good old days of tolerance. Now the curtain is falling. Thanks for all the fantastic music.

Kristofer Svensson said...

Devastating! yet understandable.
Thank you for this epoch-making site.
Wish you all the best,

LUCKYCLOUD said...

end of an era indeed. you always did it right and with class..thank you soooo much for all the good vibes and incredible music. I really appreciate what you contributed to the doubtful and the desperate. the unheard music brought to the mass. eternally hungry for more. xo Sanity Muffin.

gUmM0 said...

MUTANT SOUNDS was one of the most beautiful places in the world.Thanks for that and good luck.

ommyth said...

No tears - only immense, heartfelt thanks.

Tom

Anonymous said...

Truly sad news, but you've got to do what you gotta do! Ever since high school in the late 60's my musical tastes have always been outside of what most of my friends and radio were playing. Then in late 2009 I finally entered the world of the internet and soon discovered music blogs. Mutant Sounds was one of the first I stumbled upon and I quickly discovered a world of music even further outside than I was familiar with. Since then I have been a regular visitor and though most of your postings have been completely unknown to me I have discovered many things to enjoy and a wealth of information about them. Many thanks for everything; your efforts over the years will not soon be forgotten.

-Brian

Anonymous said...

A amazing journey...many thanks from China.
best
Wang Xi

Anonymous said...

I believe even texts will disappear, if blog won't be updated from time to time. That way it could last until Web-archeology would be possible. You could still use it for VDO activity or to at least remind us about music that's worth to hear. I deem your music taste as excellent. More in e-m.
I also think that copyfarright should be presented to us.N.

Brian Shimkovitz said...

thanks very much and big ups! sorry to see you go...

Mr Floydsack said...

FULL SUPPORT
Thanks so much and let's hope things change... sometimes.

Cheers from France!

Anonymous said...

guess we have no choice but to submit to the music industry's desire to have us brainwashed into liking their crappy bi-products. maybe i'll swing by wal-mart and by some justin bieber crud

Unknown said...

Thank You so much - I love your site & I will miss it!

Anonymous said...

I wish the gubments would go after companies committing copyright violations against mothernature. Monsanto modifies a few genes in a plant to make it more tolerant of their roundup poison, then they patent the thing. Any farmer caught using seed derived from monsanto plants without having purchased them for that season can be sued. We're losing the freedom to choose what we eat and I know I don't want to be the guinea pig for any mad scientist experiment or long term study.

The world is turning into quasi 1984, soylent green tragedy. and a little while longer and it could be more like logan's run. They are gaining control of every aspect of our lives.

Yury Akulin said...

Thank you for all those years with great music...

Anonymous said...

well , Eric , now I`m rather sad I sent you that info , but we all saw it coming ..../ PS: I need my CLEARLIGHT LP back. please & thank you L8R ~V. Dorje

edlorado said...

sad news! I wish so all the best.Thank you for all the music!

Anonymous said...

it's really sad news, thank you so much for posting all this great music ! it's been very important in my life to discover all those fantastic stuffs!

Anonymous said...

Many thanks. MS introduced me to some major musical influences, and will be sorely missed.

Otis Pipe Down said...

Terrible, terrible news.
though, of course understood.

i really hate to see these idiotic bastards getting the upper hand though. PEOPLE THIS SIMPLY CANNOT BE ALLOWED.

such a dreadful shame.

thank you so much for all you've done for music. you broadened my musical horizons infinitely.

MUTANT SOUNDS. Gone (ouch) but never forgotten...





Anonymous said...

like big oil, big pharma, big everything, big music industry is alive and well, still making millions, billions, never done better, buuttt that's still not good enough - the only way these greedy bastards might ever begin to get the message to make their good livings and leave folks alone would be for everyone, everywhere, as many as possibly possible to quit buying their stuff altogether. Then and only then might they begin to better appreciate things weren't so bad.

Anonymous said...

BIG thanks... Will miss all that array of sounds and info that you provided. Always a pleasure

Nathaniel Davis said...

thank you for your work

Jerome said...

It's a catastrophe.

Thank you so much for the great music i discovered thanks to you.
Your work was priceless.
You will not be forgotten.

mrsblucher said...

3 musical turning points in my life:
Seeing a band called Snapper live.
The Homie music server.
Mutant Sounds blog.

Each subsequently opened up new worlds.

Your effect has been done, for many, and will continue through them - thank you!

Be uncomfortable; Be sand, not oil in the machinery of the world

http://mrsblucher.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/be-uncomfortable-be-sand-not-oil-in.html

Distortion not Noise said...

Ack, HolyWarbles, Power of Independent Trucking and now you. Thanks for all your hard work. Hope you come back some day soon!!!

Garold said...

M.S. archives in book form is a great idea.
Thanks for all the music.

A Dashing Blade said...

Thanks for the music. Beers on me if you're ever around the London Bridge area.

Jesse said...

Thankyou for all the years of positive vibes and all those life changing epiphanies.

<3 from Australia

Anonymous said...

Any news on the torrent? How can it happen? Where can we go?

Anonymous said...

Thank You MS for the epiphanies!!! Working poor: this was an important life-line. Love your music. Thanks again!!!

Keep your ears trimmed and burning,

Paul Kramer

Tystamp said...

This makes me very sad...

Esteban (Tenedor) said...

Un aporte histórico...
Nunca olvidare el sitio del mutante.

Muchas gracias por todo!.