With its 10th anniversary Sonar Kollektiv is not just looking back on a successful past but is also laying the foundations for an even more successful future. Part of this is that the label equips itself for the digital age - and they are doing this with the new download platform Digital Kollektiv.

From May 2007 as an extension to the already existent Sonar-Kollektiv web-shop, there will also be a new platform under the domain www.digitalkollektiv.com. This is not just a reaction to changing habits of the listening public, rather a new way of playing with the possibility that the medium of internet offers.

At first there will be Digital-Kollektiv releases to accompany regular albums - for example, made up of alternative versions, remixes and exclusive tracks which will partly only be available through Digital Kollektiv. Furthermore this opens a wide field of experimentation for JAZZANOVA's A&R team. The speed and flexibility of the medium means Digital Kollektiv is perfect for releases beyond the static frame of physical discs.

Of course, all downloads will be available not just as MP3s but also as non-lossy Wave files.

The honour of opening this line goes to the Dutchman BENNY SINGS who's third album Benny ...at home (SK148CD/LP) just came out on Sonar Kollektiv.

Once again they have managed with the supercool understatement that only those who are completely confident doing what they do to produce with Benny ...at home a perfect symbiosis between originality and a commercially viable product. It is nothing less than that all too seldom reached goal: sublime pop music, which is at one and the same time accessible and yet never superficial.

Altogether three tracks have been chosen for the first ever Digital-Kollektiv release: to start with there's the song Let Me In. On top of that there's another two brand new pieces never before released on Sonar Kollektiv. Beggars For Sun has so far only appeared on the Japanese version of BENNY SINGS’ second album I Love You. Yours is on the German version of the album but in this case is presented in the KOFI ANONYMOUS remix.

Hannes Bieger