Linkage: Matthew Dear, Jay Haze & Ricardo Villalobos, Chris Fortier, Amazon

- Yesterday, Amazon.com have officially announced that they will be launching an online digital music store, an iTunes competitor, later this year. One particular feature, aside from web-based interface, is sure to bring a smile to many: the store will only sell DRM-free MP3's. [via TechCrunch]

- Following his second album under his own name, Asa Breed, Matthew Dear is also going to release an album as False (his techno alter-ego) for Richie Hawtin's Minus imprint later on this year. The debut single is out sometime next month. [via TestIndustries]

- House Ia A Feeling reports that minimal techno heads Jay Haze and Ricardo Villalobos are set to drop their summer '07 smash. The track is apparently called "Free Your Mind" and will soon be released on the Philadelphia-based Tuning Spork imprint.

- Chris Fortier will release his long-awaited debut artist album, As Long as the Moment Exists, July 24 on the Australian-based EQ Recordings. "I took the music wherever it led me," Fortier says. "[...] This album is my expression of gritty thoughts of dirty after-hours clubs to Sunday afternoons in the park."

- And finally Ricardo Villalobos is also rumoured to be doing a mix-CD for Fabric due for release sometime in September.