Fantastic article on former Bad Seed, and Einstürzende Neubauten co-founder, Blixa Bargeld, who discusses the future of the music industry and Einstürzende Neubauten's rather unconventional new release.

Titled "Alles Wieder Offen" the new album was financed completely online by fans. Calling themselves the Supporters, the fans donated between 35 and 65 euros ($51-$95), which entitled them to exclusive editions of the CD, a DVD of the making of the album, access to live Webcasts of the band working in the studio and even the ability to instant message the musicians with feedback on the artistic direction of the recordings.

"I find it interesting that the new strategies of the music industry are quite obviously coming from the artists and not the record companies," says Bargeld, seated at the dining room table of his posh house in the Castro district, citing the recent choose-your-own-price-tag tactics of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor. "Three or four more major acts doing this and ..."

Bargeld lets out the sound of a mock explosion, followed by a conniving grin ...

"A landslide effect will follow and this industry will, I believe, really crumble."

He's not kidding. This is the future of music, and it's working. I am giddy to witness this new era, and see artists I respect and admire at the forefront of this movement.

And Blixa Bargeld lives part-time in the Bay? Righteous.

NP: Einstürzende Neubauten, 'Weil Weil Weil' from Alles Wieder Offen