Back from the dead? Back to the Future!

Future Vintage has entered it's fourth year of existence. It means not only some 300+ posts, about 2000 comments, 420.000 visitors (plus 75.000 at the Pork blog) and zillions of downloaded files, but also some great albums and even whole labels brought back to life, many various rare assets gathered and record collections completed for you my readers as well as for me.

Looking back at the history of this blog, there had been gaps in the posting cycle now and then, but none as serious as the hiatus FV experienced in the last seven months. Actually I've put the blog on hold and never was it so close to permanent closedown. All that caused by a single piece of hate mail I've found in a comment box.

psychoalphadisco wrote: Please support this blog: DONATE. who do you think you're fooling? "Mostly promo items, free compilations and stuff that didn't fit anywhere else." and you want money for that? get yourself a consciousness, mate. artists aren't even paid anymore, blogspot/blogger is free... so WHY WOULD YOU WANT SOME MONEY FOR SHARING STUFF THAT WAS FREE FOR YOU, AND FOR WHICH REASON WOULD IT BE LEGITIMATE? bloggers who share for the pleasure of sharing don't ask for money

Frankly, this piece of crap made me so sad and bitter that I didn't feel like blogging anymore. I have no idea what could possibly have brought psychoalphadisco to write that comment. Not only it is mean, it is wrong. The fact that I share for the pleasure of sharing doesn't mean it doesn't cost me money, not mentioning the time invested in the FVV remix series. Man, talk is cheap, but you still have to pay for your mobile, right?

I founded Future Vintage after my two jazz-funk blogs, CTI Never Sleeps and Lemuria, became so popular they had to be taken down by The Man. Anyway, via the Donate button those blogs generated enough finance to keep my gigantic RS account alive long after the untimely death of the blogs. Hell, some of the CTI files are still online and are being downloaded regularly from stolen links. But the finance are long gone and RS ain't for free. Yes, there's a Donate button on FV too, but in the blog's three years existence, the donations paid for about five months. The rest was on me. And as I seem to be "between jobs" permanently, all unnecessary costs have to be cut.

Back in the winter I've emptied my PayPal account to buy as much time on RS as I could. Well, the time is gone now and I can't afford to pay the RS bill anymore. As a result, the account will expire about a month from now. There will be no re-ups and the files will die off slowly. It's clear some money have to be raised. I decided to keep this blog ad-free, so there will be no pop-ups or adfly screens, no way. So all that could keep this blog alive are your donations. The last time it was toastkid, whose donation brough FV back to life. Next time it could be you...

The fact that I've resigned on blogging for a while does not mean I've resigned on ripping and collecting piles of interesting remixes and exclusive tracks. The compilations close to completion include remix packs by 4Hero, 808 State, Adrian Sherwood, Air, Alex Reece, Andy Weatherall, Apollo 440, Ashley Beedle (yes, Part 3), Attica Blues, Brian Eno, Coldcut, David Holmes, DJ Cam, DJ Vadim, Doc Scott, Dreadzone, Fila Brazillia and Pork recording artists, The Future Sound Of London, Global Communication, Charles Webster, Ian O'Brien, The Irresistible Force, Kid Loco, Kid Loops, Mad Professor, Nellee Hooper, Nobukazu Takemura, Nuyorican Soul, Palm Skin Productions, Peshay, Portishead, Propellerheads, Rockers Hi-Fi and Different Drummer record label, Stereo MC's, The Wiseguys, Tom Middleton, Underdog, UNKLE and specials dedicated to Alison Goldfrapp, Elisabeth Troy, Morcheeba and The Amalgamation Of Soundz.

Enough ranting, time for some serious blogging. There are some heavy beats waiting for you below.

Stay tuned!