I happened to run across this site while searching for some Russian-language recordings, but it couldn't have really been an accident. Here's their lead-in: "Irdial~Discs (English) is a world renowned publisher, driven by a relentless, ferocious and uncompromising vision of what the public should expect from music, sound recordings, print and publishing."

Go to Irdial's homepage for links to English, French and German sections (although the content is not the same). There is also an interesting blog (English). There is a Free Music philosophy page which is excellent, and there are lots of other interesting links - for example, somehow I got to Ram Samudrala's "Twisted Helices" pages and had a lot of fun, both with music and philosophy. The blog is a potpourri of stuff which ranges from pure persiflage to things which should concern any person who is not afraid to think in this day and age. I particularly enjoyed these links: an article from the BBC about one person turning over the British National ID Card system after WWII; an article about the first US jury conviction under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act; and several more which you can read if you're so inclined.

There are also a lot of Free Music downloads. Here is the page on the Irdial site, and here is a mirror which is perhaps faster depending on where you live. They also have stuff you can buy if you'd like to support them; and an unusual mailing list.

Unlike the RIAA, "...neither will we try and cajole you into leaving your home to cower in a smoke choked dungeon that smells of piss, vomit and beer..." if you share their artist's tunes. Although perhaps they were not referring to the RIAA's attempt to put their customers in jail, it's the first thing which popped into my mind, and was very refreshing!

Willy Smith, reporting from Costa Rica