Subject: The Gathering – if_then_else (2000) Format Context: EAC Rip / FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)

So this is a lossless CD rip made with EAC, encoded to FLAC.


Before we explore the artifact itself, let's parse the keyword. It is a composite of four distinct pillars of early 2000s digital culture:

When you combine these, you get the phrase used by collectors searching for a specific, flawless digital transfer of a competition entry from The Gathering 2000 by the group ifthenelse.

Open it in a text editor. Look for:

If you cannot find the fabled "eacflac" version, you have two alternatives:

Important warning for searchers: Be wary of any file labeled "the gathering ifthenelse 2000 eacflac" that is smaller than 300MB. A true FLAC of a 45-minute audio CD should be ~250-350MB. If you find a 45MB "FLAC," it is a transcoded MP3. Delete it and shame the uploader.