Earlier this week, FACT reported that a test pressing of avant-garde electronic producer Aphex Twin‘s unreleased 1994 album Caustic Window was being sold on record-hunter website Discogs for $13,500, but a Kickstarter campaign will now see the record receive a limited digital release.
After the authenticity of the extremely sought-after album was confirmed to FACT by the owner and Rephlex Records, the initial dealer, online forum We Are the Music Makers (WATMM) proposed the idea of launching a Kickstarter campaign so that less moneyed Aphex fans can hear the album.
Rephlex has agreed to allow a license to the first 500 people who contribute to the Kickstarter campaign. WATMM Admin Joyrex negotiated the price down to $8,368, meaning backers will only need to pay about $16 each, while the physical copy of the album will be sold via eBay auction.
As Billboard reports, once the Kickstarter campaign’s goal has been met, Joyrex will contract a high-quality digital rip of the LP. The proceeds of the auction meanwhile will be split between Rephlex/Aphex Twin as a royalty payment, the Kickstarter contributors, and a charity to be voted on.
“All agree that it’s a good chance to give the hardcore fans a unique chance to own something that will never see the light of day otherwise,” said Joyrex. While the democratic process the parties employed is heartwarming, it’s only a matter of time till illegal copies of the LP make their way online
Listen: Caustic Window – The Garden Of Linmiri
