Bloc Party have released their new album, 'Intimacy', today using the web first, physical later model. You can get the album for either £5 for download today, £8 for delivery in October (with 3 bonus tracks), or £10 for download now and CD later. What's even cooler is that the files come in audiophile friendly 320kbps format. Click here to visit their site to download.

Like Radiohead, Bloc Party have tried to combat online piracy by announcing and releasing a product into the market quickly. By announcing the new album only three days ago, there has been no time for it to leak, and is a great way of creating an appetite for the finished product as the only way to hear it as close to release is to pay for it. Sure, it'll be shared throughout the P2P ecosystem as a black market will always exist, but I'm also pretty sure that this will appeal to the same people. What better way is there of capitalising on the buzz of a new album announcement? People just can't wait anymore. Just ask Steve Jobs.

MP3 Bloc Party - Trojan Horse