Piercer Turner, the acclaimed Irish songwriter and performer, has made a strong plea to his fans – and to music audiences generally – not to undermine the value of the music by file-sharing.

Turner has secured a worldwide release for his new album via Proper Music. Entitled Songs For A Very Small Orchestra, the record features Turner's celebrated collaboration with Philip Glass, 'Yogi With A Broken Heart', as its opening track.

"I am asking you, as a favour," Turner writes on the album sleeve, "not to copy or mail this to anyone. Of course play it to everyone, please.

"I am trying to create demand, mystique and curiosity," he adds. "It can be seen as a blatant publicity stunt, but it is also absolutely necessary for these songs to maintain value."

And in his press release, the singer adds: "I ask you dear friend, for the sake of the music, please don't burn or share this CD."

It is a plea that is likely to be echoed by artists all over the world over the coming year.

The album will receive its official Irish launch at the Grand Social, Dublin, on October 11. That will be followed by a London launch at the Slaughtered Lamb in Clerkenwell, London – where Turner has been picking up as lot of prestige support both in the media and the business – on November 15.

"I have come to this album after a seven year hiatus," Turner tells Hot Press. "Afresh I start all over again, renewed, reinvigorated." It is an observation that is borne out by the music, which is both fresh and wonderfully challenging...