Free Music Friday

The Free Music Friday flag is flying at half-mast following what from now on will always be referred to as the Anfield Massacre. Trinity Street parrots have never been sicker following the most one-sided Liverpool derby in living memory.

Gutted or not, we’ve still managed to assemble a sparkling array of tunes that won’t cost you a brass cent.

Our favourite FMF thing this week is Angel Olson previewing her Burn Your Fire For No Witness album with a gorgeous acoustic set that – hurrah! – is available for free download. Due here on February 14, the Jagjaguwar collection is like wrapping yourself in a warm feather duvet!

Getting with the streaming project and [link]3voor12.vpro.nl/luisterpaal/albums.html[/link] has upfront listens to Bibio, Painted Palms, Yuko Yuko, I Am Oak and Birth Of Joy; the go-to place for Actress, Hot Press Hot For 2014 pick Jeremy Messersmith, Gina Chavez, Marissa Nadler, CEO and Robert Ellis newbies is [link]npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen[/link] and depending on where you and your computer reside, [link]albumstreams.com[/link] lets you check out Scott H. Biriam, eels, J. Cole, The Jezabels, Tegan & Sara, Augustines, Cymbals, Banks, The Tower Of Light, Gardens & Villa, Holy Wave, Leyla McCalla, Wax Fang, Xiu Xiu, Jerome LOL, Ark Analog, Height With Friends, Mark Maguire, Simian Ghost, Above & Beyond, Lie In Ruins, Hatcham Sofa, Birth Of Joy, Four Tet, Gina Chavez and Young Fathers. .

Bombay Bicycle Club trail their So Long, See You Tomorrow album with the free download of standout 'Luna' @ [link]wxrt.cbslocal.com/2014/01/27/bombay-bicycle-club-luna-free-download[/link]. Look out for an interview with the guys in a forthcoming issue.

You have until Monday to check out Maximo Park’s terrific Too Much Information at [link]facebook.com/maximopark/app_507596536008478[/link]. That Whelan’s show next month is going to be epic!

Willis Earl Bird apologises for the cancellation of his European tour with an album’s worth of material that defies easy categorisation.

If you’re of the opinion that the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been phoning it in of late, you’ll appreciate the pre-Superbowl ‘Abracadabralifornia’ spoof to be found at [link]rhcp2014.com[/link]

Former And So I Watch You From Afar man Tony Wright, who’s now trading as VerseChorusVerse, has posted the rather lovely ‘Unified Unity (Sing For Seeger)’.
The song was already in the can before the legendary protest singer passed away earlier this week, and features on the eponymous VerseChorusVerse album, which drops on February 24. We suspect Pete would be very touched…

Suzanne Vega’s extravagantly titled new album, Tales From The Realms Of The Queen Of Pentangles, gets an exclusive [link]independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/exclusive-suzanne-vega-streams-entire-new-album-online-ahead-of-release-9091375.html[/link] stream. Her musical director is expat Dubliner Gerry Leonard who fulfils the same role for a certain Mr. D. Bowie.

Cinder Ghost – aka Dubliner Conor Mills – treats us to a gorgeous slice of acoustic soundscape-ry in the form of ‘Turn Wolf’.

Don’t forget that the new track U2 have recorded for the (RED) initiative, ‘Invisible’, will be available for free iTunes download this Sunday. An accompanying video will be premiered during the half-time Superbowl ad break – one of the most watched TV segments on the [link]planet.red.bankofamerica.com[/link] has details of both the tune and the $1 per download that will go to the global fight against AIDS.

U2’s old mucker Howie B offers this tasteful taster from his Down With The Dawn album, his first album for four years and a reminder of why he used to be in such great production demand.

Dublin buzz band The Statics give it loads of ‘60s attitude and jingle jangle on ‘Alone’, a Fab Four worshipping tune that the brothers Gallagher would be proud of.

Veteran Belfast tunesmith Andy White returns to the fray on February 14 with How Things Are, his 11th studio album which reflects on the break-up of his 15-year long marriage. The teaser vid suggests he’s in top form despite the nuptial implosion.

Elbow – who’ll be all over the pages of Hot Press shortly – have premiered the video for their The Take Off & Landing Of Everything album’s flagship single, ‘New York Morning’. “The video features Dennis and Lois, the legendary New Yorkers whose forty year-plus involvement in the music scene of Greenwich Village saw them befriend a host of bands from The Ramones to Blondie,” says a record company personage. “The pair first met Elbow helping out on the merchandise stand on an early US tour whilst supporting fellow Manchester band Doves.”

Tvvins – the alt. rock collaboration between Cast Of Cheers’ Conor Adams and Lar Kaye of No Spill Blood and Adebisi Shank renown – have an ace new single, ‘You Better’, streaming now, which is redolent of a certain Grammy-winning French duo!

Kudos to The Mighty Stef for his new video, ‘Nightwatchman Of The Iveagh Flats’, which has a real warts ’n’ all sense of place. It’s also a belting tune which is guaranteed an airing on January 31 when him and his band play Whelan’s with guests SOnance Hotel and The Statics.

And that is your Free Music Friday lot for another week. Let’s hope that the footballing gods are smiling on the right side of Stanley Park tomorrow and keep them links coming to @stuartclark66