Project: Bicycle

I was at Scratch Records the other day looking for tickets to Animal Collective, which is incredibly SOLD OUT, when I ran into my friend Andy Dixon, who was there to pick up a box of CDs for his label Ache Records. Project: Bicycle had arrived and I jumped for joy (well, as much as a jaded indie kid can) because I knew he'd comp me one on the spot as I had written an essay for the project.

The concept is simple: Give a handful of today's most progressive sound designers only one sample to work with. They are able to manipulate this sample in any way they choose, but their entire song most be composed entirely from the single sound byte.

Now, before you run over to Scratch with a wad of cash, it isn't quite in stores yet. Andy has to invoice them and such, and probably do some PR to hype the release. I don't know exactly how it works, but soon, very soon you'll be able to get your hands on this gem.

The idea behind the project is to highlight the importance of Global Warming and Peak Oil in a non conventional setting.

Track Listing
1. Aelters - Roule Brouille
2. Jab Mica Och El - Side Car Bicycle (MP3)
3. Sun Ok Papi K.O. - Pizza Boy's Bike
4. Secret Mommy - Gas Prices
5. DJ Elephant Power - Bikebou
6. TU M' - Ladri Di Biciclette
7. Romanhead - Bicycle Work (MP3)
8. Uske Niko - Les Klaxons de Madame Dupont
9. Greg Davis - Sagres (v.6)
10. Wobbly - Flee You
11. Jason Forrest - Breaking Away
12. Original Sample

"PROJECT: BICYCLE is open sourced, meaning the original sample appears untouched at the end of the compilation. This gives the listener a point of reference for each artists song, offering an inside perspective on what each musician chose to do with the supplied sound. It also encourages the listener to get involved on more then an audience level, offering the means to create a song themselves, removing the hierarchal relationship between artist and fan."

Overall, PROJECT: BICYCLE is an important compilation that unifies several ideas about politics and art, activism and creativity. Yet, these ideas are presented modestly and open for interpretation, not relying on a 'beat you over the head' approach that can be intimidating. On the most basic level, it is simply a collection of wonderful music by some of the world's most creative people, with a simple message: have fun riding your bike.