Browsing through my old file archive tonight I stumbled across a couple that some of our readers might not have heard of.

If you don't remember the old MP4, you're not alone. The format was allegedly supposed to supercede our beloved MP3, but for reasons only obvious now it disappeared faster than it arrived.

These days MP4 (Mpeg 4) is more commonly associated with a self contained video/audio data stream, most commonly used on mobile platforms and desktops. In fact it is based on Apples' Quicktime format (clarification needed?).

But during that very brief window in 1999, MP4 was trying to make a name for itself as a self contained exe that launched an audio file and accompanying album/single art along with some very basic audio controls. The file sizes were also smaller than a typical MP3, but many speculated (there was no way of really telling) that was due to a lower bitrate used on the audio track.

It baffled me at the time, because in order for it to succeed there would have had to have been the assumption that people like to play songs from their music library by double clicking them one at a time every time. Some media players at the time had the ability to handle play-lists and display album art, so the concept of an MP4 seemed redundant.

Back then I downloaded these 2 files which were given away free in an effort to pimp the MP3 killer, so I'm hoping I am not violating any copyright laws by sharing them nearly 10 years on.

So now for your nostalgic enjoyment, TISM's 'What are ya?' and Josh Abraham's 'Thrillseeker', in the now defunct MP4 format. Both are still great songs in my opinion. Both files are virus free.