Much of the success of the compact disc following its launch in 1982 came from the ability of record labels to market the ‘upgraded’ format to consumers who already had the original albums on vinyl or cassette. Re-selling back catalogue became a new income stream throughout the 80s and 90s, to the extent that some argued new artists were neglected as a result. And while the demand was eventually largely satiated, labels sought to continue the exploitation of their archives with special editions, discs of rarities and previously unreleased material. The recent release of Bob Dylan’s The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 12, an 18 disc collection of his studio time during those two years is some kind of high water mark. Although not the largest single set ever released, it surely reaches the limit of what the industry believes the market will accommodate. It’s in this musical rear view mirror that Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings emerges. A soundtrack (of sorts) to Brett Morgen’s well-received Kurt Cobain documentary from earlier this year, it’s less a traditional album than a quasi-art project in itself, designed to reflect Morgen’s take on Cobain the multi-media artist, and less the tortured grunge idol. With that in … Continue reading Kurt Cobain – Montage Of Heck: The Home Recordings