Thwarted by his label, EMI, to release his new album, Dark Night of the Soul, Gnarls Barkley producer Danger Mouse plans to issue a blank CD-R with artwork, with the implicit blessing to allow consumers to burn the music to it after finding it on the interwebs. The work is a collaboration among DM, Sparklehorse leader Mark Linkous, several guest vocalists, and filmmaker David Lynch, whose photographs inspired the music.

Danger Mouse had this to say about the dispute:

Danger Mouse's new project Dark Night Of The Soul consists of an album length piece of music by Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and a host of guest vocalists, along with a collection of original David Lynch photography inspired by and based on the music.

The photographs, which provide a visual narrative for the music, are compiled in a limited edition, hand numbered 100+ page book which will now come with a blank, recordable CD-R. All copies will be clearly labeled: 'For Legal Reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.'

Due to an ongoing dispute with EMI, Danger Mouse is unable to release the recorded music for Dark Night Of The Soul without fear of being sued by EMI.

Danger Mouse remains hugely proud of Dark Night Of The Soul and hopes that people lucky enough to hear the music, by whatever means, are as excited by it as he is.

Read the whole article about it here.

Tip: larry365