Friday Freebies

TV On The Radio
Brooklyn's finest release their new album 'Nine Types Of Light' next month, having blown me away with their last album 'Dear Science', I must admit to being just a little bit excited about this one. They're currently giving away new song “Caffeinated Consciousness” in exchange for your email address.

PAWS
Having blown several folk away at their EP launch a few weeks back, those awesome PAWS boys have posted up a live bootleg of a show they last year at Stereo in Glasgow. As if that wasn't enough they've also posted the rest of their releases to date (excluding their new EP, The Mermaid) up for free download too. The boys will be returning to the scene of the crime tomorrow as they're playing with The Babies and Schnapps at Stereo.

Kowalskiy
Our good mate Kowalskiy has just released 9th free monthly EP, bloody hell 9th? How time flies by, this month he's got another corker in store for you. If you fancy five free songs from some of the most exciting emerging artists in Scotland, then look no further. This month he has roped in Night Noise Team, Rose Parade, Chasing Owls, Two Zebras and The Mouse That Ate The Cat.

The Last Battle
As a tribute to the untimely passing of Nate Dogg, those lovely Edinburgh folkies The Last Battle have posted up their cover of Warren G & Nate Dogg's classic, 'Regulate'

Penguins Kill Polar Bears
Another Edinburgh band trying their hand a cover version are those rocktastic Penguins Kill Polar Bears kids who have covered PJ Harveys 'This Is Love', rather nifty it is too.

Andrew Lindsay & the Coat Hooks
A few weeks back I got sent the forthcoming EP by Andrew Lindsay & the Coat Hooks, to my discredit I didn't get round to listening to it properly until just a couple of days ago. Having given it the once over I must admit that I was pretty damn impressed, then again if you rope in are Loch Awe's Matthew Healy, Shambles Miller and Reverie to appear on an EP, then you're certainly onto a winner there. The EP, The Whittling, comes out on Monday coming through new Scottish DIY label, After the Hush, founded by former Stereokill editor Marcus Kernohan. As a wee taster they've very kindly made "Bearded Author" from it available for free download.

Skies Fell
The Glasgow rock outfit have now added a hidden bonus track to their single 'Statues', which is free to download on Bandcamp.

Toro Y Moi
Here's one for you hipsters, KEXP have a free download of“New Beat” by Toro Y Moi from the 2011 album Underneath The Pine.

Bear Driver
I am trying my best to avoid mentioning what's going on in Austin at the moment, purely out of jealousy I might add. One such band that are out wowing the good folk of Texas are the awesome Bear Driver, who have posted their Fugitive EP up for free download to celebrate this momentous event for them.

Neil Milton
Scots artist Neil Milton who is now based out in Poland has a new EP which is up for free download though Valentine Records, you can find it here.

Waterson
Glasgow electronica artist from has made his new single 'When You Tell Me That You Love Me' which was remixed by UK House legend, Ashley Beedle, available to download for free on Soundcloud.

Fresh Meat Monday - Skies Fell

Would you care to introduce yourself?

Hello, we are Skies fell. David, Ross, Ronnie and Craig.

How would you describe the music you make?

A little sad but hopeful, maybe. Progressive without being prog.

How did you start out making music?

We've known one another for a long time and have played music in various forms for years along with other friends. A few years ago we went through a phase of just emailing one another weird electronica that we were making, but we're enjoying being a band at the moment.

What process goes into the way you write songs?


Some of the stuff is written for piano and strings and then re-arranged for guitars. Starting on a different instrument from the one you're finally going to play on can help you have ideas you wouldn't have had otherwise. I think we work similarly to a lot of bands though. Someone will find something they like the sound of, playing around at home, bring that to the studio for everyone to hear and we'll start to expand on it. Recently we've been writing the music together then one of us goes away and writes lyrics on their own. We spend a long time adjusting songs until we feel they're right. I'm not sure any of the songs will ever really get finished. Unless we stop playing them.


What can people expect from your live shows?


We've not played live as a unit yet. We're actually pretty nervous about it. Hopefully that's going to translate into good energy on stage. I'm sure it will. It's what we've been building up to since we formed the band. Recording along the way but being great live is what we're aiming for. We'd like people to leave our shows talking about it. We have some big visual plans for the future but this first tour is going to be nice and lofi with regards to production. So, I guess people should expect to see a band budding.


What are you all listening to at the moment?

Collectively we've been listening to "Blue Sky Noise" by Circa Survive, Lissie's EP, As Tall as Lions, Minus the Bear, Holy Fuck, Bon Iver, Bat for Lashes, Phoenix, Burial, Refused, Jonny Greenwood's solo compositions and a bit of Philip Glass. So anything, as long as it's got a good tune and you can dance to it.


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

Well, we've got a new single coming out on the 9th of August and a Scottish tour in support of that. We're booking more shows right now. So, lots of shows, and a very special one towards the end of the year.


Skies Fell - Contest

Skies Fell play their debut Glasgow show at the Arches on 23rd October, with support from “Futuristic Retro Champions” and “Pareto.” Contact the band directly using this link, to request yourself a guest list place for the gig (NB - it's one place per person). The band also have two singles available for free download over at skiesfell.com

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Friday Freebies

Standard Fare
I must admit that I had never heard of Standard Fare until I caught them live last month, I had popped along to the Flying Duck to see Kid Canaveral and they were the headline band. Having never heard anything prior to that night, I was completely blown away by the Sheffield three piece. I left that night clutching their debut album 'The Noyelle Beat'. The next morning I arose from my pit to find it in my jacket pocket, I ad no recollection of buying it, but I was chuffed that I did. It's one of my favourite albums of this year, so it's about time that you checked them out. Their song, 'Dancing' is up for grabs here, I strongly urge you to give them a listen.

Frightened Rabbit
The Frabbit are giving away or at least they were, a new song, all you have to do is sign up to their mailing list here. Should that not work or you can't be arsed filling in your details, yes I know it's not hard but folk are generally pretty lazy, myself included I might add, then here's 'Son C' for your listening pleasure.

Skies Fell
The Glasgow rock outfit have just posted up their cracking new single 'Statues' up for free on their Bandcamp page, get downloading here.

I Build Collapsible Mountains
The 'mysterious' singer song writer has posted a new tune for you to download, I reckon this is one of the best songs he's done so far. Check it out for yourself, the track is called 'Rails' and it's free to download on his Bandcamp page.

Philadelphia Grand Jury
This freebie tip comes courtesy of the fabulous 'The Blue Walrus' site who tipped this band as One To Watch, as it was them that turned me on to this Australian trio. They have two freebies up for grabs, the first is a download of their song 'The New Neil Young' and the second is a free download of their 4 track EP.

Where We Lay Our Heads
Make sure you're quick off the mark with this one as it's only up for a week, get your copy of 'My Major is Your Minor' here.

No Age
Stereogum have a couple of new tracks, 'Glitter” and “Inflorescence' which are up for free download, get them here.

Captain Polaroid
The Brummie lo-fi artist has put a whole host of EP's up for free download on his blog, fans of bands like Pavement and Urusei Yatsura should probably enjoy a bit of this.

Delphic
Hyped beyond belief last year, the band have put their 'Counterpoint' EP up for grabs in exchange for a tweet.

Adebisi Shank
The Irish band have a new album coming out soon, you can download the song 'Genki Shank' from it in exchange for a tweet here.

Pumajaw
Sign up to their mailing list and they'll give you access to their members area which allows you to download some free MP3's.

Antony & The Johnsons
There is a new EP coming out soon, which includes covers of both Bob Dylan and John Lennon, Stereogum have a free download of 'Thank You For The Love' from it, you can download it here.

Stars and Sons
The Brighton indie pop outfit will let you download their single 'Fights already fought' in exchange for a a Facebook shout out.



Kowalskiy's Komplimentary Korner

Olafur Arnalds

The Icelandic singer has posted a free download of 4 songs from his live performance in Manchester with full orchestral backing. You can find it here.

Friday Freebies

King Creosote
King Creosote's newest, as yet unreleased, album 'My Nth Bit Of Strange In Umpteen Years' was played seven times in its entirety at the Homegame Fence bash. Attendees were encouraged to record the gig and share it around. Here's what the good man had to say about it. "My next album isn't going to be recorded at all, it's only going to be a live experience. I'm going to do seven performances of the album at Homegame in a small room that only holds about 40 people, and what I've insisted on is that the audience records it for themselves on all sorts of cheap, portable equipment (dictaphones, old Mp3 players, mobile phones, etc.) and then passes it around. The idea being that if it's true that passing files around and file-sharing helps build a live audience then this will be the proof in the pudding. But those songs won't exist outside the live performance."
Some of the live recordings are already starting to surface online, here are some of the links that I have comes across so far. Link one here, Link 2 (split into two parts), Link 3 (again split into two parts)

we were promised jetpacks
If you sign up to the Jetpacks mailing list, then you will receive a free Mp3 of 'A Far Cry' taken from their forthcoming EP. Sign up here.

Ariel Pink
Los Angeles outfit Ariel Pink are giving away new song 'Round and Round' for free download, it's one of those sign up for their mailing list type scenarios. Register here.

Skies Fell
Glasgow's Skies Fell are giving away a free download of their debut single, 'Contest/Hurricane', you can download it from their Bandcamp now. Thanks go out to Jim G for this one.

Alessi's Ark
Alessi Laurent-Marke, more commonly known as Alessi's Ark, new EP Soul Proprietor is out next month. To promote it DrownedinSound are giving away a free download of the song 'The Robot'.

Fence Collective
Clash Magazine have posted a wee zip of Fence artists for free download, there are tracks from François & The Atlas Moutains, Rozi Plain, OLO Worms and FOUND. Click here to download it.

The Holy Roman Army
Irish duo, The Holy Roman Army have posted a free 5-track covers EP on their Bandcamp page for free download. It sees them taking on the Pixies’ ‘Wave of Mutilation‘, Rollerskate Skinny’s ‘Speed To My Side’, Bon Iver’s ‘Skinny Love’, Peter Broderick’s ‘Not At Home’ and Pavement’s ‘Here'.

Sara Lowes
If you listen to Marc Riley during the week on 6Music then you are more than likely to have come across the lovely Miss Sara Lowes. If you liked what you heard, then you might be interested to know that there a free download of her song 'Something I Don't Know' is up for grabs. It's one of those sign up the mailing list deals, sign your life away here.

Run/Lucky/Free
The Edinburgh indie-pop four piece are giving away a free download of their new song 'Unicorn' here. If you like what you hear then you might be interested to know that they are playing at Edinburgh's Haddowfest at the end of the month.

The Gothenburg Address
They featured in this weeks 'Scots Way-Hay' and here they are again, this time it's a bootleg entitled, 'Shimmer In The City', of them performing at Nice n Sleazys in Glasgow.

SXSW
One day I'll make it out to Austin, one day! Until that day I'll have to content myself with live recordings and free samplers. NPR have a tasty wee sampler up for download at the moment, featuring Spoon, Broken Bells, The Walkmen, Local Natives and Freelance Whales. Get yourself a copy here. (redeemable only on the U.S. iTunes Store)

theapplesofenergy
Ambient experimentalist, Stephen Gribbin 'Gribb' has put a few tracks up for free download on his Soundcloud page. Get downloading kids

High Places
Brooklyn duo Roy Barber and Mary Pearson, who make up High Places, have a free remix of 'Can't Feel Nothing' up for grabs up on DiS.

Frightened Rabbit
Any stragglers out there that haven't invested in 'The Winter of Mixed Drinks' might be pleased to learn that a free download of the single 'Swim Until You Can't See Land' is up for free download on KEXP's website.


Kowalskiy's Komplimentary Korner

Lonely Tourist
For all of you who are still mourning at the demise of Odeon Beatclub, you might be interested to know that their former lead singer Paul has a new outfit on the go, "Lonely Tourist".
If you send an email to lonelytouristmusic@yahoo.co.uk he'll mail you back 3 MP3s for nowt!
This freebie comes courtesy of the lovely Kowalskiy, which makes that the third week running that he's pulled a cracking freebie out the bag, hence he is now being given his own weekly slot in Friday Freebies. Keep up the good work mate!