"Free for a tweet" from Bad Panda Records. Their first and so far only release, it would seem. Album sounds pretty good...labeled "Psych Rock" but quite electro-pop-dancey in spots.
Btw, my nearly inert Twitter account is "@doofycomics". My only previous tweet was an attempt to win something on Amie Street! I see @elwoodicious and some others, will follow you if I can find you!
Saddle Creek has three free tracks from Bright Eyes and the upcoming The Rural Alberta Advantage, and Azure Ray releases. I also notice that Saddle Creek is doing a great job packaging these new releases as cheap, download only through vinyl and bonus packages. I think that this is a great way to generate interest in buying directly from the label.
This should get some kind of award for least appetizing cover art, but the music is great. This is a collaboration between Jason Corder, aka Off the Sky, and Danny Kreutzfeldt. It's a little darker and more forceful than your average Off the Sky release. Have had it for a while, but just gave it a first proper listen through, and I like it a lot. According to the label,
Danny Kreutzfeldt is in charge of the foundational work (in this case: sonically recreating the fathomless vacuity of inner molecular space), with Jason Corder filling it with fluffs, globs, sparkles and washes of grit, glitch, sounds of electrical tools and some more viscous substances, which take on the shape of its container, as a lake of its bedding. Massive reverberations of empty monolithic space (the reverberations of a gutted, godless heaven) are interspersed by these more material sonic instances, breaking the waves of desolation and forming eddies of flux which somehow breathe life into self-willed death.
Hmm. Don't know about that. But there's certainly some expanse and drama in the music.
One thumb up really. I was excited to see this appear on bandcamp, having thought highly of Eluder's earlier work (The Most Beautiful Blue is according to the stats on my ipod my single most listened to album, though that's skewed a bit because it's one of my go-to relaxation albums). I'm a bit disappointed so far - there seems less going on in this release, just nicely done but very straightforward drone. But it's free (NYOP with explicit encouragement to enter zero) and worth a listen if you like early SOTL, and there are other free/NYOP albums by Eluder there that are well worth checking out. I recommend Ancient Agent.
I think I got this at Amie, but I see it's free at CDBaby. The review is apt:
"little country, little rock, little blues, little psychedelic with a touch of pop and all from ...oklahoma??? go figure. any fans of the flaming lips, beck, ween and so on should love it. great album."
I liked the samples on that Beefeater Project so I downloaded it. The last time I got something at CDBaby was about 10 years ago. I had to make a new account because I couldn't find the info.
I do not recall seeing this mentioned here before, but here is a page for all the current 7-Digital Free Tracks. This is a bit more useful that Amazon's freebies page, I appreciate having the genre tabs.
Great find, am, I love the Neil Young vibe of Ce matin encore.
I already mentioned this in listening to now thread, but the band Grandfather has an interesting album--perhaps more interesting because they self-finance to record with Steve Albini and had him record them live to two track. It's a tight, loud, intellectual record. Some comparisons have been made to Shudder to Think and Tool, though those don't quite fit. It's really much higher quality than what I usually expect from a free rock record.
Reviews generally describe this as a combination of experimental noise and jazz, even Krautrock (in the case of the Free Jazz review), but I find that it shifts between styles more than combines them. Nonetheless, this should please fans of both.
ETA: the label, Candy Dinner, has a number of free albums that are also worth exploring.
'Solo Guitar Improvisation II' is the first release of 2011 from the enigmatic Talvihorros who has previous releases on Hibernate, My Dance The Skull & Benbecula.
The track was recorded in a single live take with no overdubs and minimal post-production. A prepared electric guitar, played with various objects including battery-operated devices such as the Ebow, Buddha Machine and a shortwave radio, then sent through a complex chain of effects pedals and loopers.
The result is a rich tapestry of textures, guitar melodies and waves of static combining to create a unique and modern take on live guitar improvisation.
Oh my god, Moby just became my Favorite Person of the Day. He has a section on his site that allows you to listen through music he's created and which can be used for free by independent film makers in their movies as long as it's, crap I already forgot, has to be like a documentary and/or some kind of non-profit venture. And if it's for a for-profit commercial film, it can still be used but for a price, of which all the money goes to the Humane Society.
I think I'll listen to that EP now.
EDIT: Hm, listened to it. Well, at least his heart is in the right place.
This blog page has lots of free music, much of it from bandcamp, but much from elsewhere.
One album in particular caught my attention. It's four years old now, so this may be old hat, but it is new to me. Several years ago one of my favorite early emu downloads was How We Handle Our Midnights by Glossary. After that I sort of lost track of them, though. This page has an entire 2007 album by them, The Better Angels of Our Nature. It turns out that it's also available for free, or at least just for the promise to give an email address, on the band's site: http://www.glossary.us/downloads/. I'm listening now and while it doesn't seem to match my nostalgic recollection of How We Handle..., it sounds very good.
That blog page also has a link to an early live album by Drag the River, an erstwhile local favorite in these parts.
I have really struggled to write this without being incoherent, so excuse me if I didn't succeed.
Taylor Deupree/Various Artists - For All The Things We Did In May
For anyone who either, like me, admires the recent output of the 12k label, or would like to get to know it without spending any money, there is a free hour-long continuous mix for download on soundcloud put together by label owner Taylor Deupree and containing excerpts from many of their relatively recent releases. It is simply wonderful - a treasure trove of delicate small beauties, and I would say very melodic and accessible overall. I would have been more than happy if I had paid full price for this. Highly recommend you give it a listen if you have any space in your life for gentle electronic/acoustic compositions. For those more familiar with 12k, check out the artist list:
Track List:
1. Shuttle 358 Gone (from Optimal.LP)
2. Motion Miles Away (from Every Action)
3. Molly Berg + Stephen Vitiello Kora (from The Gorilla Variations)
4. Christopher Willits The Rollerskating In San Francisco Machine (from E.A.D.G.B.E)
5. Jodi Cave Rara.B (from For Myria)
6. Pillowdiver Pill 7? (from Sleeping Pills)
7. Sawako April From Sea Shell (with Radiosonde) (from Bitter Sweet)
8. Taylor Deupree York [May 4, 2006] (from Live1: Mapping)
9. Steinbrüchel 04? (from Mit Ohne)
10. Seaworthy Map In Hand 4? (from Map In Hand)
11. Small Color Heaven Knows (from In Light)
12. Pjusk Juv (from Sval)
13. Solo Andata Loom (from Solo Andata)
14. Machinefabriek + Stephen Vitiello Crackle Box, Thumb Piano (from Box Music)
15. Taylor Deupree Sea Last [excerpt] (from Sea Last)
Correspond is the first collaboration between U.S based musicians Devin Underwood and Marcus Fischer. Together they have created five beautiful pieces of delicate, free floating ambience. Followers of each artist individually will find that their styles seem to effortlessly combine as they experiment with their shared love for minimalism, field recordings, acoustic and electric instruments and natural reverb.
Finally! A new release for a new year hails from the Konungariket Sverige (Kingdom of Sweden). Erik Nilsson (Apan Music) has created a truly unique blend of sounds including everything from guitar and piano to field recordings and an amazing blend of finely constructed beats. It certainly mirrors the modern styles and craftsmanship known throughout Sweden and all of Scandinavia. A contemporary interpretation of the old northern kingdoms is relevant as an evolution of sounds, as will be evident throughout this album. I cannot say much more about it without the album telling you itself. Enjoy!
This is simply gorgeous, at times glitchy, at times catchy, at times jazzy. The second track is a masterful hybrid of styles.
Arctic/Antarctic is centered around a series of guitar based improvisations. The first half, Arctic, consists of the gradual folding and unfolding of melodies played on guitar and sustained through the use of a custom designed granular delay plugin. The asynchronous delayed notes are pitched both up and down resulting in organ-like textures. Layered atop portions of Arctic there are the playful sounds of hail on the exposed tines of a toy piano.
The first 1/3 of the Antarctic portion is based on the slow shifting of loop points within a larger guitar loop. The rest of Antarctic contrasts with prior sections. Rather than using digital processes, this portion relies only on loops created using a system of modified analog cassette tapes. These cassettes were played back and rerecorded at a distance capturing some of the surrounding sounds such as cats moving about the room and hints of nearby construction.
Spent some time gathering music by Oathless this afternoon, so in case anyone else is interested, here are all the releases with links, including ones posted to one thread or another before by me or others - all are free and many are nice. Earliest two are a kind of ambient folk, gets more electronic as it goes on, but still with acoustic elements. I listened to Zephyr through a few times this afternoon - very pleasant.
Demo (3xFile, MP3, VBR) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2007 Scars Beyond The Transcendental (File, MP3, VBR) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2008 Astray (6xFile, MP3, VBR) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2008 Lambent Amber Winds (5xFile, MP3, 320) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2008 The Road To Dystopia (File, MP3, VBR) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2009 Seen Through Reflection (5xFile, MP3, 320) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2009 Zephyr (7xFile, MP3, 320) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2010 Standing Where Our Paths Shall Meet (8xFile, MP3, 320) Hawk Moon Records 2010
Comments
"Free for a tweet" from Bad Panda Records. Their first and so far only release, it would seem. Album sounds pretty good...labeled "Psych Rock" but quite electro-pop-dancey in spots.
Btw, my nearly inert Twitter account is "@doofycomics". My only previous tweet was an attempt to win something on Amie Street! I see @elwoodicious and some others, will follow you if I can find you!
Cold Finishes the Monk by Ten & Tracer
Free listening and download. Nice stuff. Artist has another album on same site for donation.
Shelter's End - excerpt from extract
This should get some kind of award for least appetizing cover art, but the music is great. This is a collaboration between Jason Corder, aka Off the Sky, and Danny Kreutzfeldt. It's a little darker and more forceful than your average Off the Sky release. Have had it for a while, but just gave it a first proper listen through, and I like it a lot. According to the label, Hmm. Don't know about that. But there's certainly some expanse and drama in the music.
Eluder - Untitled
One thumb up really. I was excited to see this appear on bandcamp, having thought highly of Eluder's earlier work (The Most Beautiful Blue is according to the stats on my ipod my single most listened to album, though that's skewed a bit because it's one of my go-to relaxation albums). I'm a bit disappointed so far - there seems less going on in this release, just nicely done but very straightforward drone. But it's free (NYOP with explicit encouragement to enter zero) and worth a listen if you like early SOTL, and there are other free/NYOP albums by Eluder there that are well worth checking out. I recommend Ancient Agent.
I think I got this at Amie, but I see it's free at CDBaby. The review is apt:
Huun Huur Tu: Live on WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise, Jan 22, 2011
(brighternow I think we got the same email).
I already mentioned this in listening to now thread, but the band Grandfather has an interesting album--perhaps more interesting because they self-finance to record with Steve Albini and had him record them live to two track. It's a tight, loud, intellectual record. Some comparisons have been made to Shudder to Think and Tool, though those don't quite fit. It's really much higher quality than what I usually expect from a free rock record.
Reviews generally describe this as a combination of experimental noise and jazz, even Krautrock (in the case of the Free Jazz review), but I find that it shifts between styles more than combines them. Nonetheless, this should please fans of both.
ETA: the label, Candy Dinner, has a number of free albums that are also worth exploring.
192 free tracks by Ergo Phizmiz at Free Music Archive.
Talvihorros - Solo Guitar Improvisation II
Getting ready for a new album.
Never heard of them, but they are an established Twin Cities band apparently. Cafreema, heard 'em/Like 'em?
Oh my god, Moby just became my Favorite Person of the Day. He has a section on his site that allows you to listen through music he's created and which can be used for free by independent film makers in their movies as long as it's, crap I already forgot, has to be like a documentary and/or some kind of non-profit venture. And if it's for a for-profit commercial film, it can still be used but for a price, of which all the money goes to the Humane Society.
I think I'll listen to that EP now.
EDIT: Hm, listened to it. Well, at least his heart is in the right place.
Craig
One album in particular caught my attention. It's four years old now, so this may be old hat, but it is new to me. Several years ago one of my favorite early emu downloads was
That blog page also has a link to an early live album by Drag the River, an erstwhile local favorite in these parts.
I have really struggled to write this without being incoherent, so excuse me if I didn't succeed.
edit: It looks kind of funny. Oh well, wtf.
Taylor Deupree/Various Artists - For All The Things We Did In May
For anyone who either, like me, admires the recent output of the 12k label, or would like to get to know it without spending any money, there is a free hour-long continuous mix for download on soundcloud put together by label owner Taylor Deupree and containing excerpts from many of their relatively recent releases. It is simply wonderful - a treasure trove of delicate small beauties, and I would say very melodic and accessible overall. I would have been more than happy if I had paid full price for this. Highly recommend you give it a listen if you have any space in your life for gentle electronic/acoustic compositions. For those more familiar with 12k, check out the artist list:
Track List:
1. Shuttle 358 Gone (from Optimal.LP)
2. Motion Miles Away (from Every Action)
3. Molly Berg + Stephen Vitiello Kora (from The Gorilla Variations)
4. Christopher Willits The Rollerskating In San Francisco Machine (from E.A.D.G.B.E)
5. Jodi Cave Rara.B (from For Myria)
6. Pillowdiver Pill 7? (from Sleeping Pills)
7. Sawako April From Sea Shell (with Radiosonde) (from Bitter Sweet)
8. Taylor Deupree York [May 4, 2006] (from Live1: Mapping)
9. Steinbrüchel 04? (from Mit Ohne)
10. Seaworthy Map In Hand 4? (from Map In Hand)
11. Small Color Heaven Knows (from In Light)
12. Pjusk Juv (from Sval)
13. Solo Andata Loom (from Solo Andata)
14. Machinefabriek + Stephen Vitiello Crackle Box, Thumb Piano (from Box Music)
15. Taylor Deupree Sea Last [excerpt] (from Sea Last)
- On Distance Recordings:
This is simply gorgeous, at times glitchy, at times catchy, at times jazzy. The second track is a masterful hybrid of styles.
I do not think I have seen this mentioned, Celtic to Classic - Relaxing Guitars (Exclusive Amazon Digital Sampler), 14 tracks
Lonely Hearts Valentine's Day Sampler, featuring Alejandro Escovedo, Bobby Bare, Ha Ha Tonka, etc.
Demo (3xFile, MP3, VBR) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2007
Scars Beyond The Transcendental (File, MP3, VBR) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2008
Astray (6xFile, MP3, VBR) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2008
Lambent Amber Winds (5xFile, MP3, 320) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2008
The Road To Dystopia (File, MP3, VBR) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2009
Seen Through Reflection (5xFile, MP3, 320) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2009
Zephyr (7xFile, MP3, 320) Not On Label (Oathless Self-released) 2010
Standing Where Our Paths Shall Meet (8xFile, MP3, 320) Hawk Moon Records 2010