The Open Library project aims to create a web based catalogue of all books available, with the ability to add and correct books and add libraries to the records.

The Open Library announces the next step, a revamp of their website:
"We’re very excited to announce the “soft launch” of our brand new Open Library site! This is version 1 of a reconstructed Open Library, and we’re going to keep it “soft” at a special URL until we’re sure it’s stable enough to make the final transition to openlibrary.org. We’re hoping that will happen soon."

Open Library is a project of the non-profit Internet Archive, and has been funded in part by a grant from the California State Library and the Kahle/Austin Foundation.

from the vaults:

"So, why record-stores? Why collecting-societes and distributors? Why the n-th copy of your average pop-trash? Why launch-parties with champagne and caviar-appetizers? Does music need an industry? Or does an industry merely use music?

Start the download ... and decide for yourselves."

Or, as Dirty Harry would say:
"But being as this is the 25th iDEOLOGY release, the most powerful netlabel in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?"

Release page to [iD.025] Never mind the industry ... here´s iD.EOLOGY

here is our subjective list, what are your favorites?:

1 You go without me - NK
2 Oscillar-controlled voltage - Dual Perception
3 Bungaloo - Broke Lovers Sextet
4 Walkman Song 2.1 - Broke Gringos
5 The Revolution - Ate One
6 Blackboard Jungle Dub - Disrupt
7 Beam of Life - Bangguru

Netwaves plays what your toaster likes: crispy electronics with a zest of hip-hop.

Again, we offer this episode not only as a podcast, but we upload also the seperate tunes: this way you have a weekly netlabel compilation.

Download them seperately at the netwaves episode page, or download podcast and tunes in 1 zip file.

You like it or not? well, let me know:
e m a i l: input @ netwaves.org .

Download or listen to [nws136] netwaves 4.22:
.

Playlist:

1 She's sleeping - Ocoeur
2 black and white negatives - KaostapesKain
3 Key to pleasure - F.AN
4 tHe uNdErToW - Awaycaboose
5 Laxative - Chud
6 Breakfast with Jesus - Digi G'Alessio
7 No Rap, No Reggae - Padawin
8 Sale - Da Krew
9 Colapso - Andreia Dacal
10 crystallinity dub - dj def
11 Dementia - Niedermeier & Whitehead
12 dirty sheets - walker barnard

Ozzen Herman mokt na reeklam veu sjakosse! de janet!

This episode is full of slow beats, and convincing melodic ambient sounds. Netwaves has already nominated 2 releases as essentials of 2010: Hoax and Mon0.

Again, as a way of testing, i've included the original tracks, so you don't have to listen to the Dutch talks in between. This way you have a weekly netlabel compilation.

Download them at the netwaves episode page.
Let me know what you think about it:
e m a i l: input @ netwaves.org .

Download or listen to [nws135] netwaves 4.21:
.

Playlist:

1 Groovemospherica - Slow noise
2 Ka7 - Uchujin
3 Fluxosphere - Kosmonaut
4 radiator - lilliehorn
5 December's Shadows - Iambic
6 Fusion - mon0
7 Crash - Hoax
8 Progress - Hoax

Sylvain, one of the founders of Jamendo, came up with good news (on 17th of feb., not so recent, sorry, but i have not enough time): Jamendo got a new partner which is 'able to secure the financial future'. Together with the announcement, Sylvain also promises new improvements: removing of all ads, more openess and interaction, better release process, .torrents with open trackers, a special forum for ogg, ...
Read the whole announcement on Jamendo's forum.
I hope to meet these guys once on one of the following netaudio festivals (Berlin or Lissabon).

"Six of the most original netlabels have teamed up for one release – each label presenting three of their favorite tracks from their own catalog – to celebrate the idea of free music, and to simply bring you the shit de la shit!

Up it up (Italy, Germany, U.K.), Ego Twister (France), Peppermill (Canada), Proot (France), Cock Rock Disco (Germany) and WM Recordings (Netherlands) share similar backgrounds and philosophies, and they are proud to present their "Greatest it"." Download 'it' from the mothership, the Internet Archive.

Listen to Rafter with "Long Ago, A Rodent As Big As A Bull Lurked In South America":

cc:by-nc-nd

a classical one: the cover of Even Tuell's "Power Of Needles" (netlabel Broque)

Last month 2 albums have caught my attention, because of their search for the borders of minimal drones, resulting in intriguing slow trance with layers of ambient and soft techno beats. Supreme dubtech in sloooowmotion.

mon0 - Monoplex: Fusion (cc:by-nc-nd)

Hoax - The Insomnia: Crash (cc:by-sa)

This reminds me of the legendary 'metal box' (1979) from P.I.L., where one announced the end of punk and the start of post-punk new-wave, by dissecting the remains of 70's rock and disco beats, and resorting these elements into a whole new genre.

Hoax and Mono are also dissecting techno-beats and ambient noises to create a new experience, a kind of relaxing slow trance. There are no references at all to the overproduced, overcompressed mainstream 'alternative' rock that comes out of the commercialised, overmarketed radiostations. On the contrary this is the opposite of the allday radio-noise, and for me this is the perfect reaction against the over-commercialised mainstream alternative rock and its guitar cliches. I call it post-punk 2.0, whereby the DIY philosophy of punk is reactivated, this time with simple, quiet drones in 'monoplex' structures.

These are not masterpieces, but these are very strong, important signals from something that's happening. This is possible thanks to all the netlabels and artists and their engagement in music rather than business.

This week netwaves digs in netlabels' funky shit. Let's shake these free butts!

As a way of testing, i've included the original tracks on the respective archive.org page, so you don't have to listen to the Dutch talks in between. This way you have a kind of a "Best of this week netlabel tunes".

Though i'm still figuring out the presentation: 1 zip file or several files? the discussion is open. Let me know what you think about it:
e m a i l: input @ netwaves.org .




This one is also something experimental: i've put the 'listen to' audio file in the new html5 tags, looking like this (link html5 doctor):

<audio controls autobuffer>
  <source src="link.ogg" />
  <source src="link.mp3" />
</audio>

So, here's the magic player in brandnew html5 (if you don't see any player, just buy a new computer):
Download or listen to [nws134] netwaves 4.20:
.

Playlist:

1 Step Up (Feat. Arnossi) - Titus Twelve
2 Dont You Know Who I Am? - Swin Deorin
3 Luces LED - DrXL
4 Fakerska Zika - Enggenier
5 Ion Funnel - Sudio
6 verso ?sin esfuerzo? - menuda coincidencia
7 The Glass Bead Game - Sephirot
8 Believe - Flux & Vega
9 By Any Means - Small Radio
10 Freeze The Cut (Opolopo's Emotional Draft Remix) - Comfort Fit
11 Technician (Preview) - Das Blaue Monster

As a kind of souvenir, Tropic's D.Soul has rereleased the special compilation his netlabel offered at Berlin's netaudio fair. Tropic had created 50 limited compilation cds that they gave away for free at the festival. Now, by popular demand, you can download and listen to some typical Tropic stuff, ranging from microhouse to chill house.

My favourite track is the disco-nouveau from Andreas Heiszenberger 'Feel so A' (sorry no link, it's part of a zip-file).
Go to Tropic extra release page.

well, euh ..., new (first blog says 'Mai 27, 2009') = i just encountered this blog / i don't know anything more than this; but it looks promising? Let's have a look (German only):

According to Electronic Music Anonymous these are a few more 'amazing net labels':

"I can't get enough Dub Techno. Recently I came across some amazing net labels that make the majority of their albums free to download under a creative commons license. Most of the releases share similar qualities to the artists found on Echocord, and provide many hours of late listening pleasure and throbbing kick drums. Great to see such amazing collections of music forming in very different parts of the world.

Istanbul, Turkey - http://www.sublimeporte.net/
Smolensk, Russia - http://www.cismsound.net/
Vancouver, British Columbia - http://www.silentseason.com/

My favorite artist of the lot is Ohrwert http://ohrwert.blogspot.com/
This video of him doing his thing explains why. Plus most of its analog. Wish I had hardware."

After reading this exciting news - i'm also a dubtech fan - i'm going to the ear-shop to buy some extra ears.
What i want to say, is that there's nowadays an explosion of new netlabels and netlabelism. The difference with 5 years ago is that recent netlabels are getting more professional and finding an 'identity', but this needs also a few extra professional ears ... help! Maybe somebody can lend some ears?

Open source once started in the computerworld, infecting the open culture movement, inspiring free music, and also left its seeds in the academic world, where the phenomenon is called 'open access'.

The situation: when an academic wants to write a paper for a well-respected journal, he has to pay the publisher to be published (this can be as much as 1000 euro). Take notice of the fact that the academic person and the publication fee are both paid by public tax money. After the publishing, the university has to pay the subscription on this journal in order to put this paper in 1 of their libraries (this can be as much as 5000 euro). Again, this is paid by public money. If students want to make copies of this paper, they have to pay some royalties for the author, who has been writing this paper during his work for the university. You understand that in the internet era, this absurd situation can no longer stand. And that's why the publishing model is taking small steps towards a new model. Within the academic world, the Open Access model gains more and more success, while publishers are experimenting with more open license models.

This also happens thanks to initiatives of government bodies, like the European Uniion, who are worried what happens with tax payer's money. Recently the EU announced the OpenAIRE initiative. "OpenAIRE aims to support the implementation of Open Access in Europe. It provides the means to promote and realize the widespread adoption of the Open Access Policy."
Read more about OpenAIRE on its website.