I am pleased to announce that my record label, Desert Comb Music, now has a dedicated webstore. You’ll be able to download – and fully preview (aka “stream”) – music directly from it.
Here’s the reason. Bandcamp is fine, and it’s not going anywhere. But it was never built to host a proper Dolby Atmos mix, a 5.1 surround mix, or any of the multichannel formats that come with an immersive release. Those files are too big for Bandcamp. So the surround and Atmos formats need a home of their own. Building this store, it made sense to bring in the high-resolution stereo formats too – 24-bit / 96kHz FLAC, separately mastered vinyl versions, and any other bonus tracks of interest.
None of this replaces Bandcamp. The Bandcamp pages remain exactly where they are, and that’s still the place for CDs, vinyl and smaller downloads.
Surround mixes will also continue to turn up, where available, on those excellent sites Immersive Audio Album and Surround Music One.
Beyond that, the pitch is the same as it’s always been. Physical media is great and preferred by many, but international shipping costs, customs surcharges and tariffs have become ridiculous, both for customers and sellers. Streaming services can change their terms whenever they like and releases can suddenly be removed like magic by the licence holders. Emerging in-between now is the mighty digital download – full quality, yours to keep, no subscription, no app, and no algorithm deciding whether you get to hear it.
First up on the shelf is the Ambient Den self-titled album, in stereo, 5.1 surround, and Dolby Atmos. It deserves its own introduction, so I’ll leave the details for later. But the short version is that it’s in the store now, if you’d like to check it out.
There’s more coming, too. My Ben Craven catalogue is getting the surround treatment, beginning with a Dolby Atmos remix of Two False Idols. And the various Frankenfido singles and unfinished tracks are being remixed and pulled together into a proper album. Neither is finished, so no dates just yet.
That’s it for now. No pre-orders, no countdown timer and no popup asking for your email before you’ve entered the website.
Cheers, Ben.