UK deckmaster James Zabiela is brandishing the creedo ‘adapt or die’ boldly on his sleeve with the announcement that he and the fine folk behind the Renaissance compilation series are teaming up once again to offer a fresh take on the mix compilation format.

As announced in a press release this morning, Zabiela and Renaissance are back in bed together, with Zabiela cooking up a sequel to last year’s terrific Masters Series, but this time there’s a twist. Instead of releasing Zabiela’s package in stores and online as normal, fans will only be able to pick up the mix at dates on Zabiela’s upcoming world tour where it will be bundled into the normal ticket price.

“James is embarking on a headlining world tour from March 2010 to coincide with the album,” the press release stated. “At the club shows the compilation will be given away for free to a majority, if not all, the music-lovers who have bought their regularly priced ticket to the event. The album will be presented in a shrink-wrapped, full-colour wallet on a flexi-DVD that’s both eco-friendly (50% less carbon emissions) and lightweight (again, 50% less than standard CD/DVDs). Alongside the 2 mixes that comprise the compilation, the package will also feature two exclusive videos: a tour diary and making of the Masters Series, alongside custom screensavers, desktop wallpapers, icons and more.”

Weighing on the nifty new means of delivering the mix, as well as what’s gone into making it, Zabiela said “this mix is another snapshot into life through my ears. Rather than make 2 distinct journeys (one home listening and one club) I tried to carry the theme of ‘life’ over the span of both mixes, this time blurring them together, making for a single soundscape. The fact we’re going to be distributing this mix in a unique way alongside traditional methods also makes this project all the more exciting for me to put together.”

With this album being made only to ticket-buying punters, surely you’d think that there’s an Australian leg of Zabiela’s ‘world tour’ on the cards, right? We certainly hope so.