Consume — digital or physical?

Digital

You can access as streams or downloads

Tactile devices

Here’s a lovely review of Binary Dust by Steve Mayall [2003] at https://musically.com/about/

“It often seems as if digital music manufacturers compete to cram the most technology into the lightest, most tiny, pocket device.

So it was refreshing to discover the latest musical release from avant-garde performer and new media veteran Gavin Starks: a musical rock. Starks, who founded Tornado and is now MD of UK digital music services company Consolidated Independent, has embedded a music playback device into a 19kg smooth granite rock, which plays his own compositions when manipulated by optical controls in the stone.

There’s something inspiringly retro-futuristic / stone-age / space-age about the release, which Starks is calling “Binary Dust” and comes under a Creative Commons licence. But proving that Starks is nothing if not forward-thinking, the creator promises that future versions will be solar-powered.”

You can order four physical things. Prices are noted where possible. Often there’s a range.

1. A personalised, custom
CD (£20), or LP (£50+)

2. A dedicated hardware music player,
as a 19kg solid granite installation

It has an embedded player and FM transmitter. This work is dedicated to Alexei Blinov, who created the original electronics prototype. 

£250

Which, given that it’s solid granite, is also waterproof.

3. A dedicated exceptional-quality book of the track cover artwork and other images

In 2010 the words ‘Binary Dust’ were designed and cut into a number of forms (for example, cut in solid copper) taken to, and placed in, many unusual and unique places.

This book is a collection of photographs taken from all over the world as I’ve travelled. 

(The one in the photos is £285 and has a dedicated case and solid acrylic cover, dedicated box.  Am also exploring cheaper options from £70, just let me know).

4. Individual or series of art-quality prints

On high-quality prints or on aluminium.

For example, a 30x30cm album-cover metal print with aluminium subframe to ‘float mount’ (£80).

If you are feeling adventurous, can also make your own with this online print service here.

Please e-mail me directly if you would like to discuss anything on this page.