Album Notes

Due to computer failure at the Brilliance In Action offices, the artwork and masters have been compromised. Consequently, future copies of the 2004 series are not forthcoming. Prices have risen to reflect the rarity of these releases.

March's installment in Brilliance In Action's 2004 monthly-release series is a bit of a digression from the established pattern of churning out whatever experimental work the composer came up with and unleashing it on unsuspecting consumers (you). Instead, we have given the mic to a certain DJ A, who says "I'm doing my damnedest to subvert everything." Whether DJ A succeeds is its own debate, but this new release shows that clearly he is challenging how you view music and what the purpose of Brilliance In Action really is.

DJ A took his idea for this release from an article by David P. Hamilton in the April 12, 2001 Wall Street Journal and a web page on the same subject hosted by Dr. David S. Touretzky. The article is about a software code called DeCSS, which allows one to break the encryption code protecting DVD movies from being copied, and some legal maneuvering around it. Specifically, it details the argument that software code should be classified as speech, and thus might offer those who would disseminate it protection under the First Amendment. The question is whether software code is free-speech, and how intellectual-property laws apply to it. This article, and further reading, can be found at http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/DeCSS/Gallery/wsj-04-12-2001.html.

The link above links to other sites that ask the question: In what forms is the CSS descrambler code protected as free speech vs. prohibited as copyright violation? This is a theoretical exercise in the possibility of translating software code into other media and then disseminating it. Are these translations in violation of copyright law? Even if they're no longer executable on a computer? As few of these methods have been tested in the courts, it is not known whether their existence and/or dissemination is liable to punishment under copyright law. Presumably, however, if they were Hollywood would have found this site and prosecuted as many of the practitioners, or even alleged practitioners of copyright violations. However, just because they're there doesn't make it legal for you to use them. Decoding a DVD is illegal and punishable by something under federal law. Don't break the law.

The cover art is a prime number found by John Carmody. Using the right PERL extraction program, one can pull the CSS descrambler code from this number. The original MIDI file used as the basis for these songs was created by Mike Castleman. Shout outs to everyone involved for their help and patience.

BIA0017