Friday Freebies

Now if I had been super organised I would have had this post up much earlier today. Normally I write my Friday Freebies posts on a Thursday night whilst my good lady wife watches the soaps. Rather than sit in front of my computer all night (which funnily enough is what I have been doing this evening), I decided to head an see Behold, The Old Bear at Bloc. Bloody good it was too, even if I did I have to leave early to catch my train. Although I write a music blog I often feel that I am not out at enough gigs these days. Then again back in the day I was pretty much out every other night. Anyway, enough of my inane ramblings, on with this weeks belated Friday Freebies...

Randolph's Leap
As I already said I was out last night, normally during the week I tend not to drink, however, last night I decided to treat myself as I had a little bit of celebrating to do. In case you haven't already heard, the line up for this years T Break got announced today, featuring amongst others Capitals, Beerjacket and Randolph's Leap. I guess it's not much of a secret how much I love 'the Leap', so it's great to see all of the hard work that we've put in come to fruition. That and I can now tell my folks something that I have been involved in that they will a frame of reference for. Anyway, enough about me, you're only here for the free stuff so here we go... To celebrate the fact that they'll be playing at this years T in the Park,the band have made their double A-side single 'Counting Sheep / Deep Blue Sea' free to download on Bandcamp.



Plastic Animals
It's been a wee while since we heard anything from the Edinburgh outfit, Plastic Animals, so it's nice to have them back. The band release the follow up to their last EP, 'A Dark Spring' on the 2nd of June with another equally as good EP called Automaton. As a wee teaser, the band are releasing the lead track, 'Ghosts' as a free download on Bandcamp. You can also catch them playing live next month in Glasgow at the launch night for the Touch Sensitive album at the Old Hairdressers (across from Stereo) alongside our very own Adam Ross from Randolph's Leap.




PAWS
I don't know if it's just my Twitter feed, but it seems as if half of Scotland has relocated down to Brighton for this weekends Great Escape Festival and I can't help but be a little jealous. I mean where else are you going to get to see The Twilight Sad, We Were Promised Jetpacks and PAWS all on the same bill in an intimate venue. Certainly not in Glasgow that's for sure. On the plus side though, PAWS have a new EP coming out soon on cassette. I don't know about you, but I am really loving the rebirth of cassettes and just because they annoy Kev from Avalanche. For now though, all you need to know is that Misled Youth the lead track, is available for free download on SoundCloud.

  03 Misled Youth by Fat Cat Records


Sean Armstrong
Lo-fi expermintalist, Sean Armstrong has just released his new album Hippy Bullshit on Orange dayglo cassette. If you're not a fan of tapes or you just want to check out more, then you're in luck as the album is free to download on Bandcamp.



The Leg
Earlier tonight I found myself listening to the latest episode of Cloud Sounds, one of my favourite podcasts run by a guy called Ted from Manchester, who's patter cracks me up. In his latest episode he played a few Scottish tracks, our very own Son(s), Ambulances and The Leg. Which reminded me that I had fully intended to include The Leg in Friday Freebies fucking donkeys ago, but somehow forgot. So here they are, the Edinburgh outfit released their album 'An Eagle to Saturn' on Song, By Toad at the end of last month. I still haven't listened to it, mainly because I forgot I had it. I have heard the single from it, 'Bake Yourself Silly', which is pretty fucking damn good. Time to get my finger and give the album a listen I reckon.

Night Noise Team
Edinburgh outfit, Night Noise Team have a new EP coming out in June called Pieces, in anticipation of it's release their PR firm, the excellent, A Badge of Friendship have posted up Picking Up The Pieces as a free download on SoundCloud.

  Night Noise Team - Picking Up The Pieces by abadgeoffriendship

Eugene McGuinness
If you listen to 6Music on a regular basis then you're bound to have come across Eugene McGuinness at some point. If you don't listen to 6, then shame on you. Shame on you indeed. His last single 'Shotgun' was getting some pretty hefty airplay a month or so ago, you might recall it's the song that starts off like the theme to Batman before descending into a catchy wee bugger of a pop tune. If you have no idea what I am talking about or even if you do, all that you really need to know is that this song and his other single, Lions, are both up free download on his Facebook page.

Isobel Campbell
I will probably use this for a future 'We've Got It Covered' post, so I'll keep this brief, Isobel has released  a cover of  Franz Ferdinand's 'Walk Away', which she is giving away as a free download in exchange for your email address. Talking of 'We've Got It Covered' posts, tomorrow is my 100th cover post, so make sure yo check back in for a special wee cover that I had specially recorded for me from Monoganon.

Mike Nisbet
Last years album 'Vagrant' caused a bit of a commotion amongst the Scottish blogosphere towards the tail end of the year. So much so that he even appeared in the BAMS top ten for 2011. If you haven't already checked the Oban born singer-songwriter out, then you should start off by checking out his Coffee & Cigarettes EP, which is free to download on Bandcamp.



Luminous Monsters
If 12 minute psychedelic/progressive/drone/cosmick/freeform ecstasies/ersatz orientalism sounds like your kind of thing, then should check out Luminous Monsters EP 'Golden Scales, Blazing Plumage' which is free to download from Bandcamp.





Queen Jane
You might remember Queen Jane from a few weeks back as they were one of my Fresh Meat Monday starlets, well now that the Cumbernauld four piece have made their Denver EP free to download, you've got no excuse for not checking them out. You can catch them playing live at Scottish Fiction Presents at the Captain's Rest on Sunday, 17 June alongside Michael Cassidy, Spook School and Saint Death.



Scottish Fiction
Talking of Scottish Fiction, he's just posted up the latest in his series of free EP's, featuring The King Hats, aLCATRAZkIDz, Thula Borah and Father Sculptor. You can get yourself a copy simply by heading over to his Bandcamp page.



Bacchanal Party
Last, but not least we have Glasgow outfit, Bacchanal Party, who were also announced as being one of the bands playing on this years T Break stage. If like me, you've only just heard of them, then you get yourself acquainted by downloading their album for free here.

Night Noise Team - Ally McCrae Session (02/05/11)

Track Listing
1. Menolick
2. Parting Shot
3. Drifting
4. Burning

Download

Friday Freebies

Yes I know this should have been up quite a few hours ago, but seeing as I was off destroying my liver at Wide Days in Edinburgh, this is the first chance that I have had to sit down and knock something together. Without further a do, here's this weeks hungover Friday Freebies...


Crystal Stilts
Having previously been compared to Joy Division, the New York outfit return with their second album 'In Love With Oblivion'. As a taster of what to expect, CMJ have got a free download of new track 'Through The Floor' up for grabs.

The Ideal Crash
The Glasgow indie-folk pop have 3 free demos to download on their Bandcamp page if you like what you hear then you can catch them live at Nice N Sleazys on the 14th of May with Dear Mountaineer.

A Torn Mind
The Scottish prog- rockers have made their track 'Mindless Obsessions' free to download on their Bandcamp page.

Fractures
If you like your post-rock with a touch of electronica, then Fractures should probably be right up your street. Their self titled EP is free to download on their Bandcamp page.

Low
I am not sure if I have posted this before, I might well have done, but hey it's worth repeating. By all accounts their new album is supposed to be pretty stunning, I haven't heard it myself, but the kids seem to be liking it. You can get an idea of what it's all about by downloading 'Try To Sleep' for nowt from Soundcloud.

mini50 records
Edinburgh based record label, mini50 records, have just posted up a free sampler on Bandcamp featuring among others Conquering Animal Sound, Mammoeth and The Kays Lavelle.

Chad VanGaalen
With his new album due out next month on SubPop, Stereogum have an exclusive free download from the Canadians fourth album 'Diaper Island'.

Night Noise Team
With their debut album due out in May, exciting times away for Edinburgh outfit Night Noise Team. You can get yourself a wee taster of what to expect by downloading new song 'You Won'. Just click on the link and scroll down to 'N' and hey presto the free tune is all yours.

Fat Goth
The Dundee rock outfit are on a bit of a sabbatical at the moment, however, you can now download the wonderfully title album name 'Willy Wonka and The Charlie Factory' and 'Fat Goth's Descent Into The Third Circle of Hell' for free on Bandcamp.

The Deadly Winters
The Edinburgh outfit are launching their debut album tonight at The One Below in their home town. They have made 'Tura Mae' from it, available to download for free here.

Stanley Odd
I'll finish this weeks Freebies with some hip hop, Stanley Odd have made 'Harvey Kartel vs Stanley Odd - Trillnarcotics Remix' available to download for free.

Friday Freebies

Amazon
For a limited time, the online retailer is giving away over 150 albums for free, a lot of is pish, but there are some cracking wee samplers to be found, including albums from Saddle Creek and tunes from The Morning Benders and Girls.

Define Pop EP
Our fellow blogger mate Kowalsikiy of Kompimentary Korner fame has knocked up a cracking free in celebration of tomorrow's Define Pop festival. If you want some free tracks from Tango in the Attic, Little Yellow Ukuleles, I Build Collapsible Mountains, Aspen Tide, So Many Animal Calls and Campfires in Winter, then look no further.

Esperi
On Wednesday I had Mr Esperi as my Scots Way-Hay starlet for the week, if you liked what you heard then check out this free download of his song 'Dialled'.

Ash
Mrs Peenko got to go and see these boys on Tuesday there, apparently it was amazing. I wouldn't know as I was on babysitting duties on my own for the first time. Thankfully we both lived to tell the tale. The band are set to play a big gig down in London Town, to celebrate they're giving away some tracks, one from them and one from each of their support acts, The Crimea and The Lines, get it here.

Telekenisis!
Their self titled debut album was one of my favourite releases of last year, a class find from the now defunct and sadly missed Planet Sound (the music page that was on Teletext). Anyway, the band are due to release their second album early next year, as a taster of what to expect you can download new track 'Car Crash' for free here.

Night Noise Team
The Edinburgh outfits new single, 'Burning' came out on Monday, keeping with the theme of continuing to surprise folk, the band seem to have shed their 'dance pop' sound and taken on a Joy Division-esq sound. It's up for download as one of those 'Name Your Price' deals, which you can download from their bandcamp. To celebrate it's release the band have made their two previous singles 'Menolick' and 'You Won' available to downloaded for free.

Martin John Henry
Our friend Mike up at Manic Pop Thrills celebrated his 500th blog post in style this week with a wee interview with former De Rosa front man, Martin John Henry. It's a cracking a wee read, which should check out (once you've finished on here that is). He also alerted me to a cracking free download of Martin's electro take on his former bands song ‘All Saints Day’, cleverly changed to 'All Saintz Dayz'.

Maxwell Panther
You might remember me posting about Maxwell Panther a while back, he's a Mackem and he's signed to Song By Toad Records. He was all celebrating a special occasion this week, I can't for the life of me remember what it was, birthday? Barmitzva? Whatever it was, he's decided to celebrate in style by putting all of his back catalogue up for free download.

Miss the Occupier
The female led punk trio and also Scots Way-Hay club members have already promised us that they'll be back with new tunes early next year, until then you can quench your thirst with this free download of new song 'All Day'

Zoobizaretta
Another Scots Way-Hay band that have posted up a free tune for your listening pleasure are the fabulous Zoobizaretta who have made their track 'Something New' available for free download.

Jonathan Sebastian Knight
The My Cousin I Bid You Farewell frontman has posted a couple of live recordings of him playing at Tchai-Ovna, get em here.

The Rock of Travolta
I hadn't heard of this band in years, I remember hearing a lot about them about 4 or 5 years ago, then nothing. That's possibly because I disappeared up my big Scottish arse. Anyway, they have a free tune up for grabs in exchange for your email address.

The Lost Generation
They kicked this week off as my Fresh Meat victims, if you liked what you heard or you missed the post then you can check them out now by downloading their tune 'Lose Your Love' for nowt here.

Darren Hayman
The former Hefner frontman has posted a free download of his song, 'When the King Enjoy's His Own Again ' which you can find here.

Cloud Nothings
There is a free download of their song 'Understand at All' over on the NME's website.

Murder Mystery
A very late addition to this weeks freebies comes from New York outfit, Murder Mystery, who have posted up their new single, 'Problems' up for free download. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but they describe it as'Aphex Twin meets Madonna', sounds fucking mental to me.

Nouveaunoise
They have an EP called 'Panaka' available for free download on their Bandcamp.

Wildlife
Here's another band that got in touch to let me know that they have a wee freebie up for grabs, this one comes from Toronto outfit, Wildlife, who have three free songs on their Bandcamp.

Derek Webb
You can download his 'What Matters More' EP here.

Black International
There are a couple of tracks up for free download on their Bandcamp.

Pherranda Knightes
Download 5 Track EP Pherranda Knightes for free here.

North Atlantic Oscillation
I am not normally one to miss sessions, but their last session on the Beeb completely passed me by, thankfully though the are giving it away as a free download.

Live sets from the T Break Stage at T in the Park 2010

Set Lists
1. French Wives - Live Set From T Break 2010
2. Mitchell Museum - Live Set From T Break 2010
3. The Seventeenth Century - Live Set From T Break 2010
4. Washington Irving - Live Set From T Break 2010
5. Night Noise Team - Live Set From T Break 2010

Download

Fresh Meat Monday - Night Noise Team

Would you care to introduce yourself?

Hello, I'm Sean from Belfast on voice and guitar. Fabien from Paris plays bass and conjures sonic bliss. Marco from Milan wields guitar. Mike from Dunfermline batters the drums.


How would you describe the music you make?

A reviewer said we bridge the gap between Joy Division and Scissor Sisters! Sounds horrendous...let's just say we're one of the many rooms in the mansion of pop.


How did you start out making music?

Fab and I arrived in Leith and played in another international combo called Kilo. Marco and Mike were saved from their thrash metal and hard rock shame to help NNT on its pop mission.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

I write all the words and some of the tunes. These are usually pieced together gradually. Fab used to present me with demos which needed lyrics but more recently we've brought ideas to rehearsals and worked up arrangements with everyone pitching in ideas.

Night Noise Team - You Won (stream)


What can people expect from your live shows?

We're aiming for a melodic assault, a guitar-led rush.

What are you all listening to at the moment?

Vasco Rossi, The Maccabies, Michel Delpech, Pony Club. Locally, the Paraffins single is promising and Edinburgh's Black Sea Sailors are playing good shows.


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

New single 'You Won' is out today! Single launch gig will be at Limbo in Edinburgh on 22nd May. We're aiming for an autumn release for our second album.


Night Noise Team - Menolick (MP3)

Myspace

Friday Freebies

Wolf Parade
Spencer Krug's outfit third album is due out next month, entitled EXPO86, they will also be playing at Oran Mor on the 19th of May. Want a sampler of what you can expect? Well here you go, here's a link to download two new songs.

4AD
A free Summer Sampler from 4AD, featuring tracks from Ariel Pink, The National, Stornoway, Anni Rossi, The Big Pink and Efterklang is up fro grabs. Just click here to start downloading.

Night Noise Team
The Edinburgh indie-disco outfit have made their debut single 'Menolick' available for free on their Bandcamp page, their new single 'You Won' is also available to buy (it's a cathcy wee number and it's only 60p). A wee post on these guys will be up soon.

Call Me Ishmael
The Glasgow Podcart loves these guys, I haven't had the chance to give them a listen yet, but that's all set to change as they have posted some free download links in their latest myspace blog. Time to get acquainted I think.

The Rolling Stones
I must admit that I've never really been a fan of the 'Stones, I guess I'd have to say the same for the Beatles. Neither of them really ever did it for me, fuck it I'm an oddball I know. Anyway, Jagger and that old guy that shags wee girls have a free download up for grabs if that kind of thing takes your fancy. Get 'All Down The Line (Amazon MP3 Exclusive)' here.

The Concretes
The eight piece Swedish indie pop band have a free download of new song 'Good Evening' up for grabs on their tumblr. It's taken from their new album, WYWH, which is due out in October.

Black Keys
Their new album 'Brothers' is due out on the 18th of May, as a taster they're giving away new song 'Ohio' for free, just head here.

School of Seven Bells
Stereogum have a wee linky gadget in which you give your email address and in exchange they'll send you new song 'Babelonia'. Check it here.

FOUND
FOUND boy, Ziggy Campbell has posted a 55 minute mix entitle 'Visible Manifestations' for free download. Grab yourself a copy here.

Ed Harcourt
Filter Magazine have a free download of a new song from Ed Harcourt, recorded live at KEXP. It's called Killed By The Morning Sun and you can get yourself a copy here.

Tim and Sam
Their debut album came out on Monday, if you fancy a wee taster before you consider parting with your pennies, then you can download their song 'Choices' here (just give them your email address - you should know the drill by now).

Seth Lakeman
I saw him once a few years ago at Belladrum, he really impressed me at the time, then I completely forgot about him. So here he is to remind me of that lovely weekend spent up north. If you want a free copy of his song 'Hearts & Minds' you have to do something with twitter or facebook, I'll leave you lot to work it out.

Braids
Every week I try to find something new for all you hipsters out there (which usually entails me posting some hyped to fuck band on Stereogum/Pitchfork). This week it's a Canadian band called braids, and it's Stereogum doing them the honours. If you want to make sure that you ;loved/hated them first' then you can download their track 'Lemonade' here.

Milkymee
Mind I featured in FF the other week? probably not, but hey now's your chance to catch up as she's posted her whole album, Songs For Herr Nicke, up for free. Ain't that nice of her.

Bella Ruse
Minneapolis folk duo Bella Ruse have posted a copy of their eponymous EP up for free download. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then head here to download it.

The Acorn
The Canadian outfit have posted new song 'No Ghost' taken from their forthcoming album with the same name, up for free download on their Soundcloud page.

Silver Columns
They've remixed Foals track 'This Orient' and stuck it up on their Soundcloud for free download. Get yourself a copy here.

Kowalskiys Komplimentary Korner

Curators
This weeks offering from Kowalskiy is a demo from Edinburgh band, Curators, just head over here and get downloading. The track up here for download will be the opening track off their forthcoming album, keep your eyes peeled for a feature on the band on his site sometime soon.