We wouldn’t have expected any less, really.

After a week of teasing on Twitter and Tumblr that he’s up to something, Thom Yorke has released a new solo album titled Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes.

The album is deliberately spread on BitTorrent networks via a new “paygated” BitTorrent bundle (effectively a BitTorrent file you have to pay for). Download it here or via the nifty embed below for $6 (£3.81).

For those who need a more tangible memento of this event, it’s also available on deluxe vinyl for £30.

Yorke and long-time collaborator Nigel Godrich explained the idea behind the “experiment” in a statement – scroll down to read it.

Yorke and Godrich said:

“As an experiment we are using a new version of BitTorrent to distribute a new Thom Yorke record.
The new Torrent files have a pay gate to access a bundle of files..
The files can be anything, but in this case is an ‘album’.
It’s an experiment to see if the mechanics of the system are something that the general public can get its head around …
If it works well it could be an effective way of handing some control of internet commerce back to people who are creating the work.
Enabling those people who make either music, video or any other kind of digital content to sell it themselves.
Bypassing the self elected gate-keepers.
If it works anyone can do this exactly as we have done.
The torrent mechanism does not require any server uploading or hosting costs or ‘cloud’ malarkey.
It’s a self-contained embeddable shop front…
The network not only carries the traffic, it also hosts the file. The file is in the network.
Oh yes and it’s called Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes.

Thom Yorke & Nigel Godrich”