The Dark Night Of The Soul project from Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and David Lynch is quite possibly one of the coolest musical collaborations to come down the creative pike in some time, but the album has been shelved because of an ongoing battle with Danger Mouse’s label EMI.

According to reports, EMI Music blocked the release of the album, due out in July, over a contractual dispute.

The album was to be released as part of a 5,000 limited edition book, which contains photos by Lynch and with the audio disc inside. Well, the book will still get a release, but now with a blank-CD that reads: For legal reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.

Great. Put me down for two.

You have to appreciate the fact that they included a blank disc when leaked tracks are available right now somewhere online for download. Still, it would be a real shame if the music is never officially released. A Danger Mouse spokesperson has said:

“Danger Mouse remains hugely proud of Dark Night Of The Soul and hopes that people lucky enough to hear the music, by whatever means, are as excited by it as he is.”

Dark Night of the Soul features guest spots from the Flaming Lips, the Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, Iggy Pop, the Pixies’ Frank Black, the Shins’ James Mercer and a handful of others.

That’s the kind of musical creativity that should be commercially available!

There is a shimmer of good news. Yes, you can still order the book (without the music!) from the Dark Night Of The Soul website, but luckily you listen to the entire album via NPR Music.

I’m listening to it right now. It’s good, really good.

If you happen to be in Los Angeles, an art installation featuring music and photos from Dark Night Of The Soul will run at the Michael Kohn Gallery from May 30 to July 11.