INSTAR set back-catalog free to celebrate new film and record.
Jan 1, 2008
Noted West-coast post-rockers INSTAR celebrated the new year by releasing their 2005 full-length LP "Secret Services" as a free download under a Creative Commons license. The album is available as high-quality MP3s with no DRM (Digital Rights Management) directly from the band's website.
Called "...a noble musical adventure" by Pulse, the free release gives listeners around the world a chance to experience the album as a full-length composition instead of a collection of singles.
Instar's debut EP "Rich Girls" was called 'Excellent' by London's NME. The band is best-known for its multi-year colaboration with MTV animator and New York based independent film-maker Pat Smith. Instar's principal, Karl von Kries, wrote the sound-tracks for Smith's acclaimed short film "Drink", and the subsequent short "Delivery". Smith and von Kries are working on a new film "Masks", with planned release in May of 2008.
In addition to the film, Instar plans to release a new full-length album in early 2008. "I've been writing and playing a lot of new material live", says von Kries, "and trying to use technology to create a big sound that's still organic and musical - drum loops and vocal processing, but tightly controlled by me as I play. It makes for a lot of work, but the result is a 'band-feel' instead of a canned performance. I can extend sections, have a dub / delayed part of a song, whatever. This is the first time I've played material live before recording it, and it feels really good. I can't wait to get into the studio with it".
Listeners can see previews of "Masks" and download their copy of "Secret Services" at http://www.instarmusic.com