The best of Bleep and Warp Records
December 6, 2009 12:18 PM Subscribe
The Best of Bleep "To celebrate Bleep's 5th birthday, we asked a select cast of people working in music to pick their 5 favourite releases or tracks from the entire Bleep (Warp Records) catalogue." Of note: Thom Yorke, Chris Cunningham, Tricky, Kid 606, and Fennesz
In case it's not clear, these lists aren't limited to the Warp catalog. Kieran Hebden picks something on ESP, e.g.
posted by box at 12:44 PM on December 6, 2009
posted by box at 12:44 PM on December 6, 2009
There are hundreds of labels on Bleep.
Something nice that I stumbled upon: Tea Leaf Dancers by Flying Lotus on the Reset EP
posted by bigmusic at 12:51 PM on December 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
Something nice that I stumbled upon: Tea Leaf Dancers by Flying Lotus on the Reset EP
posted by bigmusic at 12:51 PM on December 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
Huge props to Bleep, which pioneered selling un-DRMed music online. AFAIK Warp was the first big label to just sell MP3s via a digital store, no nonnsense. They're almost at their sixth birthday, they launched in January 2004.
I'm glad Warp continues to expand the store. Just now I'm listening to the (great) Fuck Buttons release Tarot Sport. $9 to buy the download from Bleep; Amazon's only option is a $13 CD. And now that Apple's bought Lala, it may be that purchasing and downloading MP3s is still the best legal way to manage a music collection for awhile longer.
posted by Nelson at 1:00 PM on December 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm glad Warp continues to expand the store. Just now I'm listening to the (great) Fuck Buttons release Tarot Sport. $9 to buy the download from Bleep; Amazon's only option is a $13 CD. And now that Apple's bought Lala, it may be that purchasing and downloading MP3s is still the best legal way to manage a music collection for awhile longer.
posted by Nelson at 1:00 PM on December 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
Bleep was among the first online music stores to offer legal DRM-less music, but more than that they started to reprint out-of-print stuff from Warp's back catalog, which almost completely demolished the ridiculous eBay market for vinyl rarities. It was also good to see them expand their business with other labels.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:29 PM on December 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:29 PM on December 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
but more than that they started to reprint out-of-print stuff from Warp's back catalog, which almost completely demolished the ridiculous eBay market for vinyl rarities. It was also good to see them expand their business with other labels.
This is true, to my chagrin.
posted by Falconetti at 4:15 PM on December 6, 2009
This is true, to my chagrin.
posted by Falconetti at 4:15 PM on December 6, 2009
Love Bleep, love Warp, hate Thom Yorke.
It's a good thing someone came here to post this. Otherwise, I would've been left reading the comments without knowing if someone didn't like Thom Yorke. The knowledge that MeFi poster whoeveryouare doesn't like Thom Yorke has really increased the enjoyment level of the post.
posted by secret about box at 4:17 PM on December 6, 2009 [4 favorites]
It's a good thing someone came here to post this. Otherwise, I would've been left reading the comments without knowing if someone didn't like Thom Yorke. The knowledge that MeFi poster whoeveryouare doesn't like Thom Yorke has really increased the enjoyment level of the post.
posted by secret about box at 4:17 PM on December 6, 2009 [4 favorites]
Bleep is just plain awesome. I'm really glad this post came by when I'm broke because otherwise I'd probably go spend a hundred bucks or so on music there...
posted by egypturnash at 4:20 PM on December 6, 2009
posted by egypturnash at 4:20 PM on December 6, 2009
Not only does Bleep deal with DRM-free MP3s, they also care about the encoding. They first encoded everything in VBR, then changed to 320kbps CBR, both encoded with the newest stable LAME encoder available at the time, plus they sell FLAC and WAV. You can listen to the whole song (in 30 second sections, user-selected by clicking on the preview waveform). In short: they care about the music they sell.
/fanboy
but more than that they started to reprint out-of-print stuff from Warp's back catalog, which almost completely demolished the ridiculous eBay market for vinyl rarities
I imagine there was some dip in the resale market, but hardcore collectors, vinyl-exclusive DJs and other such folks get nothing from Bleep. I know plenty of people who still stalk the early Warp records, ignoring the high quality digital alternatives.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:26 PM on December 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
/fanboy
but more than that they started to reprint out-of-print stuff from Warp's back catalog, which almost completely demolished the ridiculous eBay market for vinyl rarities
I imagine there was some dip in the resale market, but hardcore collectors, vinyl-exclusive DJs and other such folks get nothing from Bleep. I know plenty of people who still stalk the early Warp records, ignoring the high quality digital alternatives.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:26 PM on December 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
Hating Thom Yorke just plays into his Dickensian waif shtick. He still wins.
posted by kid ichorous at 5:41 PM on December 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by kid ichorous at 5:41 PM on December 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
Thom Yorke wants you to hate him. You're playing into his hands, and by doing so perpetuate the existence that fuels your hate. So let it go, man.
posted by ardgedee at 6:59 PM on December 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 6:59 PM on December 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
No need to apologize, Thom Yorke started it.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:36 PM on December 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:36 PM on December 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
guys please be nice to thom or he will write more bleak joyless dirges
posted by fleetmouse at 7:53 PM on December 6, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by fleetmouse at 7:53 PM on December 6, 2009 [4 favorites]
Guys, stop it or I'm going to tell Morrissey on you.
posted by Theta States at 9:05 AM on December 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Theta States at 9:05 AM on December 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm just sad that Designers Republic couldn't be around to see this day. *sniff*
posted by Artw at 10:43 AM on December 7, 2009
posted by Artw at 10:43 AM on December 7, 2009
Let us not forget, ninjatune, big dada and counter records are available on bleep. (and they are all really the same label in different guises)
posted by poe at 11:16 AM on December 7, 2009
posted by poe at 11:16 AM on December 7, 2009
The same as each other, not the same as Warp, yes?
I likes me some Ninja Tunage.
posted by Artw at 11:32 AM on December 7, 2009
I likes me some Ninja Tunage.
posted by Artw at 11:32 AM on December 7, 2009
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Warp Records is one of the greatest labels of all time.
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:35 PM on December 6, 2009 [2 favorites]