Friday Freebies

This weeks freebies was sponsored by the letter J. J is for Jim. Jim is also known as Ayetunes (or the ginger bunny) and he very kindly tipped me off about a lot of these freebies. For that I am very thankful and so should you be.

Mogwai
Scotland's finest post rock outfit are set to release their new album, ' Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will' next month. If you can't wait that long then you're in luck as you can now download "San Pedro" from it here.

Findo Gask
The electropop outfit might well have called it a day, but all is not lost as they've posted up their single 'Go Faster Stripe' for download on their Bandcamp. It's not necessarily a freebie, it's one of those pay what you want downloads, whether you decide to pay is up to you. Just make sure you download it, as it's a corking wee single, from a sadly missed band.

Withered Hand & Woodpigeon
Edinburgh's finest, Withered Hand sets off on UK tour with Canadian artist Woodpigeon later this month, in celebration of this they've posted up this cover they did together of Velvet Underground's 'I'm Set Free'.

The Head And The Heart
No sooner had I tipped the Seattle outfit as one of my ones to watch in 2011, then the next thing you know they've signed up to Sub Pop in the US and Heavenly for the rest of the world. Yes, that's right I am taking all the credit for it, or perhaps not. To celebrate this awesome news they're giving away a free download of their song 'Down in the Valley' on their website.


Pablo Eskimo
The Glasgow outfit posted this cracking wee video of their song Dot Dot Dot yesterday, in celebration of this momentous occasion they've made the song available to download for free. Just follow this link and use the code code fl8u-5mm3. Hey presto you've got yourself a free tune.

FOUND
Last week we had FOUND doing a wee remix of King Creosote, this weeks freebie sees Kenny returning the favour. Awesome stuff. As if that wasn't enough they've also made a cracking wee remix featuring an array of artists including Bon Iver, Silver Columns and Malcolm Middleton, download it here.

Evening Chorus
For those of you with good memories, you might remember that I had the Evening Chorus as one of my ones to watch in 2010. The Welsh folk outfit might not have quite become house hold names, but they still released some pretty amazing material. This year they look as if they're going to be at it again, their new single 'No Wreath, No Crown' is sounding pretty fucking awesome to me. Download it for free here.

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
The New York experimentalists return to the UK in April for a joint tour with Rival Schools, not an evening to be missed. To mark their return RCRD LBL have made their new song 'Weight of the Sun' available for free.

French Wives
Some of you might have noticed that I have really been enjoying my weekly free downloads from those lovely French Wives. This week they've posted up their cover of Passion Pit's 'Sleepyhead' recorded for the Beeb at Rockness. I don't know for certain, but I am pretty sure that they must have downloaded it from this here blog and now here I am posting a link to download it elsewhere. I am sure there's a certain degree of irony in there too. The 'Wives have just announced a full Scottish tour for next month in support of their new 4 track EP, 'Feel Safe Small', which is due out on Mon 21st of February.

Beneath Us The Waves
This freebie came in just at the last minute, courtesy of our friend Neil Milton who goes under the name of Beneath Us The Waves. He recently came across track that he had almost no recollection of recording. Being the kind soul that he is, he's stuck it on bandcamp for folk to take if they want to.

Old Monk
The exciting new Brooklyn lo-fi outfit have made their new single 'Butter & Toast' available to download for free on their Bandcamp.

On Volcano
My partner in crimer, Jim AyeTunes posted about this Finnish band earlier in the week, if you fancy checking out what made him decide to post about a non-Scottish band then you can download their new EP for free here.

The Soft Collapse
Brookyln anti-folkers, The Soft Collapse have made their album 'Little Songs' available to download for free on their Bandcamp page, rather beautiful it is too!

The Deloreans
Download 'American Craze' from their Bandcamp.

Young Circles
Their EP 'Bear Bones' is free to download on their Bandcamp.

Male Pattern Band
Male Pattern Band stuck their first EP up as a free download here

Cheer
Techinically not a freebie, as it's one of those pay what you want downloads, either way you can find 'Breezes in the Abyss' a new album for Cheer on his Bandcamp.

Bedroom Problems
There are a whole load of freebies up for grabs on their Bandcamp.

Conquering Animal Sound
RCRD LBL have a free download of Conquering Animal Sound's remix of Sea of Bees’ “Wizbot”.

The Boosts
Colin Frasers(ex-Jyrojets singer/songwriter) new project have put their first EP online for free at this link.

Friday Freebies

Evening Chorus
For some of all you regulars to the site, you might remember that I tipped this band as one to watch in 2010, and after hearing this they haven't let me down. Their new single 'No Wreath, No Crown' is available to download for free from their Bandcamp page. This is one of the best freebies I've come across all year, truly beautiful stuff.

Cults
Here's one for the hipsters, mysterious New York duo Cults have put up 3 tracks for free download on their Bandcamp, you can buy it on 7" from Forest Family Records. In this case you can believe the hype.

The Antlers
The Antlers have a whole host of free stuff up for grabs, first up there is their new single "Two" which is available free of charge here. Also up for grabs is their 'New York Hospital' E,P, which you can download for free in exchange for your email address. Their 'Cold War' EP which features their cover of Beach House's 'Apple Orchard' is also available for free, all you have to do is click the link.

Wounded Knee
The Edinburgh folkster has a free download of his song 'anti fascist reel' up for grabs on his Bandcamp page.

Milkymee
She’s French, lives in Sweden and sings lovely little folk numbers, that's all you need to get you started. She has a free download of new track, "Sally", taken from the album Domaine (OST). In order to download this catchy little number just give them your email adress.

Suplex The Kid
Glasgow post-rockers, Supplex The Kids eponymous album is available for free download over at Monograph Records.

Sympathy For The Record Industry
Head over to Amazong and you can down load a free sampler which features songs from the New York Dolls, Rocket From The Crypt and Holly Gollightly.


Dead Kids
The London five-piece, who split last month, are giving away their debut album, ‘Dark Party’ for free on their Bandcamp page.

Skybox
Chicago band Skybox are giving away a free download of their song 'Bizarre Dream Roll Out' in exchange for your email address.

Chemikal Underground
The Glasgow indie label served up a few treats in this months newsletter, including tracks from Roky Erickson and Okkervil River and Arab Strap. You'll find them here

The Mary Onettes
THis freebies comes courtesy of my good friend Ian 'Bawjaws' from Have Fun At Dinner. It's a free download from Swedish pop outfit, The Mary Onettes 'The Night Before The Funeral'. If you like your Scandanavian music, then this might well be for you.

The Silent League
The Brookylyn alt-folk outfit have a new album due in May, as a taster they have given the Line of Best Fit their new 'Here’s A Star EP' for them to give away for free.


Deerhoof
The San Francisco-based art-punks have covered Swedish band LiLiPUT's song "Hitch Hike" for a soundtrack to the upcoming young adult novel, Rules To Rock By. You can download yourself a free copy here.

The National
Another new track 'Afraid of Everyone' from 'High Violet' is available for free download over on Pitchfork.

Beach House
With most of my focus going on Scottish artists I sometimes give the impression that is all that I listen to. To be honest that probably is the case these days, mainly cause there aren't enough hours in the day for me to listen to anything else There are exceptions though, Beach House being one of them their new album Teen Dream is one of my favourite albums of this year to date. If you haven't heard it or just want to hear more click here and you'll find a link to download the radio edit of their song 'Zebra'.

The Futureheads
Their new album 'The Chaos' is out a week on Monday, as a taster Dovecote Records have put the song 'Struck Dumb' up for free download (right click save).

team ABC
'Fire EP' is free to download on his Bandcamp.

Kowalskiys Komplimentary Korner

Andrew Lindsay

This weeks Kowalskiy has unearthed another fine freebie, after his K&A with Shambles Miller, he was inspired to check out his pal/bandmate Andrew Lindsay's bandcamp page. Shitload of freebies on there including a live version of his song "She'll Dance Away"!

Evening Chorus - WOXY Session (12/12/2009)

Track Listing
1. Decisions
2. Now The Night Is Here

Download

Friday Freebies

Pavement
The American indie-legends are set to release their best of album,
'Quarantine The Past' in March, which will feature 23 tracks spanning their entire career from 1989 to 1999. In celebration (promotion) of this, they have put a wee taster up as a free download, a remastered version of 'Gold Soundz', download yourself a copy here.

Evening Chorus
If you missed out on my post on the Evening Chorus the other week, then now is your chance to get acquainted by this rather excellent Welsh band. They have put up both of their EP's, 'All That We Had' and 'Look Forward to the Day', to download for free. Head on over to their Bandcamp page and get downloading I promise you won't regret it.

The Ruby Suns
If I am honest I would have to admit that I know very little about the music coming out of New Zealand these days, off the top of my head I could come up with three names, D4, Flight of the Conchords and these guys. If you missed out on their last album 'Sea Lions' then don't let them pass you by this time. They have put a cracking little indie pop song called 'Cranberry' up for you to download here. (Try DiS if the first link doesn't work)

FatCat
The indie label are giving away a free Sampler when you sign up to their new mailing list, in exchange you will recieve a free download of their Sampler Album featuring Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad and We Were Promised Jetpacks. Sign up here.

Errors/Twilight Sad
Ever wondered what Errors would sound like if the Twilight Sad got to remix them, then wonder no more. Andy from the Sad's remix of 'Bridge or Cloud' is up to download for free over at the NME's website. Errors new album 'Come Down With Me' is out on the 3rd of March, get it pencilled in your diaries.

Mogwai
Mogwai are set to release their first ever live album, 'Special Moves' on Rock Action Records this spring and in order to wet your appetite a little they're giving away a free MP3 of the song '2 Rights Make 1 Wrong' in exchange for your details over at this minisite www.mogwaispecialmoves.com


Kathryn Williams
I got sent her album the other day, pretty damn good ti was too. Apparently it's her fifth album, I must admit that she had totally passed me by, when I first got the album I admit that I actually thought why the fuck have I been sent the new Kathryn Jenkins album. My fail. Her new album, 'The Quickening’ is out on the 22nd of February, as a wee taster she's put up alive recording of new song 'Sustain Pedal' up to download, to get yourself a copy all you have to do is sign up to her mailing list here.

Insound
The online indie store is giving away a whole host of free MP3's,
including tracks from Vampire Weekend, Nirvana, Lou Barlow, Sea Wolf, DOOM and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, just click here.

SubPop
Every week it seems as if I am posting about some kind of freebie Sub Pop, this week it's their 'Cyber Sex Digital Sampler', which features among others Avi Buffalo, Nirvana, Handsome Furs, Flight of the Conchords and Vetiver. Get yourself a copy here.

North Atlantic Oscillation
I think this will be the third time that I'll have posted about this song, but seriously if you haven't already downloaded yourself a copy of 'Cell Count' get your finger oot!
You can get yourself a free cop in exchange for a tweet here.
This will be the last time I mention how great this track is, for this week at least.

Ones to Watch in 2010 - #8 Evening Chorus

When I was thinking up my one's to watch in 2010 I must admit that I thought I'd only feature Scottish artists, but there were two bands from outwith our wee nation that I wanted to share with you. Namely, The Incredible Flight of Birdman, and Cardiff based band 'Evening Chorus'.
One of the best things about running this blog is all of the great music recommendations that folk pass on to me. One of which came from the lovely 'Drunk Country' a radio presenter on The Waiting Room, a Cardiff on WOXY.com (a mighty fine radio show which is well worthy of your attention). He got in touch with me a while back to see if I fancied hearing a few songs by Evening Chorus, quite simply because they though they were great and they wanted to spread the word. I concur.
I think the most obvious comparison would have to be Mumford & Sons, as they were one of my favourite artists to emerge last year you can probably appreciate how excited I am about this band. Anyway, I'll pass you over to the band and let them introduce themselves to you. (NB make sure you check out their answer to the balloon question, words quite simply fail me.)

Would you care to introduce yourself?

Hello, we’re Evening Chorus: Gareth, Callum, Rachel and Eugene to be precise. Gareth plays acoustic guitar, Callum plays double bass, Rachel plays violin and Eugene plays banjo, and we all sing.

How would you describe the music you make?

If it doesn’t conjure up images of men with beards and penny whistles with a finger in one ear, then we’d say we’re a folk band. If it does, then we’d probably elaborate and say we play exciting yet thoughtful music, layered with vocal harmonies and interesting instrumentation.

How did you start out making music?

Gareth and Callum had worked together in other bands, having grown up together: Rachel started playing with them in early summer 2009, with Eugene joining to complete the line-up in October, only about a week before the band’s first gig.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

The first songs we had were ones that Gareth and Callum had been working on before we started playing as a four-piece, which helped us explore the kind of sound we wanted to achieve as a band, and to get used to playing together. The more recent songs tend to start as one person’s idea, but soon evolve with the input of the rest of the band.

What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2010?

We’ve got gigs lined up for the first few months of 2010 in and around Cardiff, but are definitely looking to start broadening our horizons. As well as trying to work on our live performance, we’re hoping to record an E.P ready for around Easter.

Lastly, the question that’s on everyone’s lips is it possible to blow a balloon up under water?

Yes…and here is Gareth proving it
here, here and here
- Gareth you really did me proud with this one, Peenko

Evening Chorus - Joy
Myspace