Massive Attack’s 1998 album Mezzanine turns 20 today (20 April), and to mark its anniversary the seminal trip-hop group will be encoding it into DNA.
According to the press release, Robert Del Naja is particularly interested in how “synthesised DNA can be added to paint or ink and where that might lead in the creation of art and artefacts”.
Upon its release two decades ago, Mezzanine became the first album to be made available via a free stream on the internet using Real Audio Player and, now, it’ll become the first of its kind to be stored in DNA. The group will be using technology developed by ETH Zurich for the encoding process, and they’ll be partnering with Zurich company Turbobeads and US organisation CustomArray to realise the project.
Recently, Massive Attack left Facebook over Cambridge Analytica’s data scandal, saying, “In light of FB’s continued disregard for your privacy, their lack of transparency and disregard for accountability – Massive Attack will be temporarily withdrawing from FB”.