![Jack White's known for his challenging of modern formats, but he took things to another level with the release of The Dead Weather's 'Blue Blood Blues' single. The Triple Decker Record - a 12-inch version of the single embedded with a previously unreleased 7-inch vinyl, which can only be listened to once removed from inside the 12-inch record - was actually designed and trademarked by White himself, although you might require a knife or screwdriver to extract the thing. Hope it's worth it.]()
Jack White's known for his challenging of modern formats, but he took things to another level with the release of The Dead Weather's 'Blue Blood Blues' single. The Triple Decker Record - a 12-inch version of the single embedded with a previously unreleased 7-inch vinyl, which can only be listened to once removed from inside the 12-inch record - was actually designed and trademarked by White himself, although you might require a knife or screwdriver to extract the thing. Hope it's worth it.
![Familiarity can be tedious and Deadmau5 knows it. To mark the release of previous singles, the DJ launched two iPhone apps - firstly, to allow fans to hear them in their official, recorded versions, before enabling a remix function that ensures listeners will never hear the same song twice. Although undoubtedly fun, what happens when you've reworked a far superior cut to the original?]()
Familiarity can be tedious and Deadmau5 knows it. To mark the release of previous singles, the DJ launched two iPhone apps - firstly, to allow fans to hear them in their official, recorded versions, before enabling a remix function that ensures listeners will never hear the same song twice. Although undoubtedly fun, what happens when you've reworked a far superior cut to the original?
![Ever looked at your favourite artist's album artwork and decided that their bog-standard merch won't do? Mos Def has you covered, designing a t-shirt adorned with the front cover, track list and download code of 2009's The Ecstatic. Admittedly, it would be better if the garment had some sort of way of playing the record but, for now, wearing your favourite album will have to do.]()
Ever looked at your favourite artist's album artwork and decided that their bog-standard merch won't do? Mos Def has you covered, designing a t-shirt adorned with the front cover, track list and download code of 2009's The Ecstatic. Admittedly, it would be better if the garment had some sort of way of playing the record but, for now, wearing your favourite album will have to do.
![It felt almost inevitable when a limited 30th anniversary vinyl edition of the Ghostbusters theme tune was announced. That in itself would have sufficed, but the pressers went one better - splicing the vinyl with scented marshmallow to conjure up adorable images of Mr Stay Puft in your mind every time you catch a whiff. Katy Perry opted to do something similar on Teenage Dream, with the packaging smelling of mouthwatering candy floss.]()
It felt almost inevitable when a limited 30th anniversary vinyl edition of the Ghostbusters theme tune was announced. That in itself would have sufficed, but the pressers went one better - splicing the vinyl with scented marshmallow to conjure up adorable images of Mr Stay Puft in your mind every time you catch a whiff. Katy Perry opted to do something similar on Teenage Dream, with the packaging smelling of mouthwatering candy floss.
![As single reveals go, this is other-worldly. Using an app wasn't enough for Metronomy - to hear your first taste of 'I'm Aquarius', you were required to point your phone in the direction of the Aquarius constellation and the song would begin to play. It's an understated, dreamy number but its unveiling was pretty stratospheric.]()
As single reveals go, this is other-worldly. Using an app wasn't enough for Metronomy - to hear your first taste of 'I'm Aquarius', you were required to point your phone in the direction of the Aquarius constellation and the song would begin to play. It's an understated, dreamy number but its unveiling was pretty stratospheric.
![Mogwai: If the majority of these releases only feel possible due to the advancement of technology, Mogwai are keeping things old school. The Scottish rockers put out single 'Tracy' in 1997 in the form of an old fashioned, hand-cranked music box that, when wound accordingly, trickled out the track's main riff. Lovely stuff.]()
Mogwai: If the majority of these releases only feel possible due to the advancement of technology, Mogwai are keeping things old school. The Scottish rockers put out single 'Tracy' in 1997 in the form of an old fashioned, hand-cranked music box that, when wound accordingly, trickled out the track's main riff. Lovely stuff.
![Alcopop! Records: The label have been putting out stacks of brilliant music for a while (with this year's The Wit and Wisdom of Nigel Farage proving a highlight), but it's the manner in which the public have been allowed to access it that is of greater intrigue. Frisbees, scarves, watches, treasure maps, bikes, even a message in a bottle - if you can think of it, Jack Clothier and Kevin Douch have probably slapped a download code on it, reminding us that listening to your favourite band's latest record can still be deliriously good fun.]()
Alcopop! Records: The label have been putting out stacks of brilliant music for a while (with this year's The Wit and Wisdom of Nigel Farage proving a highlight), but it's the manner in which the public have been allowed to access it that is of greater intrigue. Frisbees, scarves, watches, treasure maps, bikes, even a message in a bottle - if you can think of it, Jack Clothier and Kevin Douch have probably slapped a download code on it, reminding us that listening to your favourite band's latest record can still be deliriously good fun.
![Death Grips and Epic: Not so much an innovative release as raising two fingers to their record label, many accused Death Grips and Epic of employing a sneaky marketing strategy when 'leaking' No Love Deep Web. Their bizarre signing to the major label was doomed from the beginning and it quickly became apparent that the band had simply got bored of waiting and spread the record online themselves, further reinforced when the furious emails of label bosses were subsequently revealed by the trio too. Despite their website being taken offline and threats of lawyers coming after them, it was later released on vinyl via their own record label. After all that fuss, we're pretty sure they should have done that in the first place.]()
Death Grips and Epic: Not so much an innovative release as raising two fingers to their record label, many accused Death Grips and Epic of employing a sneaky marketing strategy when 'leaking' No Love Deep Web. Their bizarre signing to the major label was doomed from the beginning and it quickly became apparent that the band had simply got bored of waiting and spread the record online themselves, further reinforced when the furious emails of label bosses were subsequently revealed by the trio too. Despite their website being taken offline and threats of lawyers coming after them, it was later released on vinyl via their own record label. After all that fuss, we're pretty sure they should have done that in the first place.
![Wu-Tang Clan: While we're pretty sure that music is all about sharing, Wu-Tang Clan don't seem to agree. Despite unveiling A Better Tomorrow in 2013, the collective also revealed that a double album consisting of 31 tracks, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, had been recorded - and only one copy existed. Legally bound to not be released for at least 88 years, it was auctioned to the highest bidder, said to be in the millions, and all back-up copies have since been destroyed. Even the fact it's accompanied by a 174 page book encased in leather by a master bookbinder and stored in a lavish jewel box can't prevent this release from stinking of overblown indulgence.]()
Wu-Tang Clan: While we're pretty sure that music is all about sharing, Wu-Tang Clan don't seem to agree. Despite unveiling A Better Tomorrow in 2013, the collective also revealed that a double album consisting of 31 tracks, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, had been recorded - and only one copy existed. Legally bound to not be released for at least 88 years, it was auctioned to the highest bidder, said to be in the millions, and all back-up copies have since been destroyed. Even the fact it's accompanied by a 174 page book encased in leather by a master bookbinder and stored in a lavish jewel box can't prevent this release from stinking of overblown indulgence.
![You want to listen to the Flaming Lips, you say? Well, Wayne Coyne and co. will make you work for it, if previous releases are anything to go by. Zaireeka, the band's eighth album, had fans playing four CDs simultaneously, demonstrating that no listen would ever be the same twice. Gummy Song Skull, a 2011 EP, was thrown onto a USB stick, placed in the centre of a brain-shaped gummy and further embedded within a gummy skull. It hasn't been released in any other formats, so you better get chewing.]()
You want to listen to the Flaming Lips, you say? Well, Wayne Coyne and co. will make you work for it, if previous releases are anything to go by. Zaireeka, the band's eighth album, had fans playing four CDs simultaneously, demonstrating that no listen would ever be the same twice. Gummy Song Skull, a 2011 EP, was thrown onto a USB stick, placed in the centre of a brain-shaped gummy and further embedded within a gummy skull. It hasn't been released in any other formats, so you better get chewing.
