> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.protein.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Cycles Per Instruction
- URL: https://www.protein.xyz/cycles-per-instruction/
- Published: 2014-05-20T09:26:00.000Z
- Updated: 2016-06-04T18:37:55.000Z
- Description: Seattle's Netcat decided to release their album not as a casette, CD, or vinyl, but as a kernel for the Linux operating system
- Author: Maks Fus Mickiewicz
- Tags: Seeds, Music, #protein, #Import 2024-06-11 13:25

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/10053/66be554c-f3f5-48f3-939a-9713d9e0f980.jpg)

Lately, we've seen [a few](https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2014/05/the-obverse-box?ref=protein.xyz) musical [releases](https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2014/05/lazaretto-ultra-lp?ref=protein.xyz) that [eschew](https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2014/04/the-endangered-song?ref=protein.xyz) a digitally focused model in favour of something more present and three dimensional. However, one band has gone in the totally opposite direction.  
Seattle's [Netcat](http://www.netcat.co/?ref=protein.xyz) opted for something just a touch more complex than an iTunes download, deciding to release their latest album, Cycles Per Instruction, as [a Linux kernel on the software development hosting service Github](https://github.com/usrbinnc/netcat-cpi-kernel-module?ref=protein.xyz). A kernel allows for adding new functionalities to the operating system, and in this instance the function is hearing Netcat's latest record.  
  
Linux has a reputation as the operating system of choice for the more technically savvy, and to hear this album the listener will require a working knowledge of the OS to gain access.   
The idea reflects the technological complexities that went into crafting their album - consisting of 10 laptops, an instrumented WiFi network, speech synthesis software and a synthesiser based on computer vision algorithms.   
But fear not, Luddites, for you can now also buy the album as a limited edition cassette - as pictured - or in a more common digital format at Netcat's bandcamp, [here](http://netcat.bandcamp.com/?ref=protein.xyz).   
Another band that welcomed a full-on dose of digital immersion is Brooklyn's [Archie Pelago](http://archiepelago.com/?ref=protein.xyz), who released their single, [Saturn V, as a fully interactive videogame](https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2014/02/saturn-v?ref=protein.xyz).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/10053/365c08f1-6ddc-438c-943f-dc837958c499.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/S3/protein/10053/beccc859-f45f-472b-9cb9-4bf65a1e16ef.jpg)