- Music
- 27 Apr 12
Starring Lisa Hannigan, Lana Del Rey, Pennywise, Rufus Wainwright, Bon Iver, Bobby Womack, a Sex Pistols offspring and, at long last, the return of The National...
It's the most wonderful time of the week once again as Free Music Friday returns to brighten up your weekend.
Following on from a triumphant Workman's Club performance that floored all in attendance on Wednesday night, [link]dukespecial.com[/link] finds our favourite panda-eyed Norn Iron Vaudevillian gifting us ‘Punch Of A Friend’, the first taster from his Oh Pioneer album, which follows in June. You can also get a free 12-track Duke sampler by signing-up to his mailing-list.
Our Dutch radio pals [link]3voor12.vpro.nl/luisterpaal/albums.html[/link] deliver big time – as ever – with album streams from Gravenhurst, Death Grips, Santigold, Prong, Brendan Benson, Jack White, Rufus Wainwright and Massive Attack’s mate Mark Stewart whose The Politics Of Envy is the best kind of uneasy listening.
Santigold and Rufus Wainwright are also streaming at [link]npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen[/link] which is where you’ll find new albums from Lower Dens, Patrick Watson. JD McPherson and Damon Albarn whose Dr Dee “modern opera” is an eclectic marvel.
Not to be outdone, [link]music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/spinner#/1[/link] brings you previews of The Dandy Warhols, The Raveonettes and Ryan Adams, all of which come with the Free Music Friday double ‘thumbs up’!
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A new stream for Poliça’s awesome Give You The Ghost can be found at [link]guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/apr/24/polica-give-you-ghost-stream[/link] while [link]theactualdarkness.com/music[/link] has a comeback tune from The Darkness who’ll be supporting Lady Gaga during the summer in The Aviva. Daft, but brilliantly so!
[link]soundcloud.com/maximo-park-1/hips-and-lips[/link] is home to the new Maximo Park single, which starts off all mellow and then EXPLODES!
Equally as incendiary is All Or Nothing, the latest LP from Californian punks Pennywise which streams at http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/pennywise-all_nothing_album_stream
Dallas power poppers Artist Vs. Poet let us hear their rather lovely Remember This album at [link]soundcloud.com/jasondeanavp/leavin-in-the-morning-feat-mat[/link]
‘Bitch Mob Gangster’, ‘Texas’ and ‘The Truth’ are just three of the extremely phat tunes Lil’ B has squeezed onto his Trapped In Basedworld mix-tape, which is available at [link]datpiff.com/Lil-B-The-BasedGod-Trapped-In-Basedworld-mixtape.344402.html?utm_campaign=piff.me&utm_source=http://t.co/cZbRJwnv&utm_medium=piff.me[/link]
There’s a touch of the Karen Os about the free Meg Myers EP that can be downloaded from [link]meginthedark.com[/link] while Irish hopefuls Cry Monster Cry trail their new album at [link]crymonstercry.bandcamp.com/track/the-fallen[/link]
Also previewing his new Mid Air solo album at [link]paulbuchanan.com[/link] is The Blue Nile mainman who sat down for a chinwag this week with our Craig Fitzpatrick. The resulting interview will appear shortly in Ireland's most fortnightly publication.
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This week’s hot video action starts with Lana Del Rey returning the compliment by covering Kasabian; Marina & The Diamonds also visiting the BBC Radio One Live Lounge and Sylver Tongue, AKA former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley, sounding spookily like Sinéad O’Connor on her new ‘Creatures’ single.
Sticking with Ms. Del Rey and there's a new Azealia Banks-assisted version of 'Blue Jeans' at [link]soundcloud.com/smimsandbelle/blue-jeans-ft-azealia-banks[/link]
which is making us seriously insane in the membrane!
Lest our heavy metal friends think we’ve been neglecting them, the new Paradise Lost album can be heard in its entirety at [link]decibelmagazine.com/featured/streaming-paradise-lost-tragic-idol[/link] while [link]aliasempire.com/pins[/link] has a killer electro tune from the Artists Formerly Known As Dry County, Alias Empire.
Not checked out the trippy promo for 'River's Edge', the new single taken from Dublin synth wizards Last Days Of 1984's debut effort Wake Up To The Waves, yet? Do so below. Look out for an interview with the lads in the next issue of Hot Press.
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Last Days of 1984 - River's Edge from sophie gateau on Vimeo.
Ane Brun ropes in fellow Swede Jose Gonzalez on her new single, which is available from [link]soundcloud.com/mikael-1/ane-brun-worship-ft-jos-gonz[/link] while Amazon subscribers can access a new Richard Hawley track at [link]amazon.co.uk/Standing-At-The-Skys-Edge/dp/B007OBYMHU/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334737746&sr=301-1[/link]
Next to [link]hotpress.com/John-Robb/news/READ-Extract-from-John-Robbs-Stone-Roses-book/8880274.html?new_layout=1[/link] where you can read an exclusive extract from our pal John Robb’s updated Stone Roses book.
Remaining on a literary bent, [link]joshritter.com/news[/link] has a sample chapter from our favourite Idahoan’s first novel and [link]amazon.co.uk/Beer-Trip-to-Llandudno-ebook/dp/B007RDO9ZU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334870715&sr=8-1[/link] bags you the short story that recently earned Limerick scribe Kevin Barry – another person who sat down this week with a HP scribe – a cool €36,000.
The Free Music Friday flag has been flying at half-mast this week following the tragic death of Levon Helm. The Lisa Hannigan Band and Justin Vernon are among those who’ve weighed in with live tributes to the great man.
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Bon Iver - Ophelia from Hidden Track2 on Vimeo.
We don’t know how we managed to miss this, but Justin Vernon also guested before Christmas with The National on a stunning rendition of ‘Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks’.
Into the home straight now and our appetite for the new Bobby Womack album, The Bravest Man, has been further whetted by this mini ‘making of’ documentary. We've said this before, but Damon Albarn is a veritable genius.
Finally, we are beyond excited that Hollie Cook – her dad Paul just happens to be the Sex Pistols drummer – has been added to the Body & Soul line-up. To celebrate, here’s the video for the gorgeous ‘Body Beat’.
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And that’s where Free Music Friday must once again bid you a sad “adieu”. Make sure to send all your lovely links to @stuartclark66