Free Music Friday

After flitting off to Cambodia for the week where rice whisky was drunk, ant eggs scoffed and Metfone C-League football watched – Senate Secretariat were humbled 3-0 by University – Free Music Friday returns with another selection of goodies.
 
First prize for benevolence goes to those lovely Alt-J boys who’ve made their entire SXSW set available for free download.
 

 
Snapping hard at their heels is Youth Lagoon, AKA Boise, Idaho man Trevor Powers, who’s a far rockier proposition on stage than he is on record/disc/download.
 

 
Free Music Friday is also liking its first listen to Molotov, the politically-charged hard rock outfit who’ve been massive in their native Mexico since the ‘90s and performed to 10,000 adoring north of the border fans in Austin.
Download the gig at
[link]www.npr.org/event/music/174569504/molotov-live-in-concert-sxsw-2013[/link]
 
Stream of the Week can be found at [link]pitchfork.com/advance/48-comedown-machine[/link], which is hosting the new Strokes album until March 25.
The HP jury is somewhat split with Paul Nolan giving it 7 out of 10 in our current issue and FMF’s whelm severely undered (it's a strong 8/10 without a doubt! – a subbing Craig Fitzpatrick)
Let us know what you think!
 
The streaming action continues at [link]http://3voor12.vpro.nl/luisterpaal/albums.html[/link] where new releases from Georgina Starlington, Marnie Stern, The Milk Carton Kids, Black Rebel Motorycle Club, Night Moves, Josh Rouse, Jerusalem In My Heart, VietNam, Black Pus, Low, Inter Arms, Fol Chen, Mount Moriah and, most importantly, And So I Watch You From Afar await and [link]www.npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen[/link] is desperate for you to check out Wavves, Julian Lynch and Nashville’s hottest, Kacey Musgraves.
 
Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill swung by America’s National Public Radio last week for a quick acoustic seisúnthat’s begging to be iTuned.
 

 
Dinosaur Jr. serve up a surprise, extremely good and downloadable cover of Phoenix’s ‘Entertainment’ at [link]wxrt.cbslocal.com/2013/03/19/dinosaur-jr-covers-new-phoenix-track-entertainment-free-download[/link]
 
Wire offer a free [link]stereogum.com/1283272/wire-love-bends-stereogum-premiere/mp3s[/link] pre-release taster from Change Becomes Us, an “exploration of unrecorded material originally written from 1979 – 1980.”
We can’t begin to tell you how awesome it is!
 
There’s no shaking but the gratis [link]kroq.cbslocal.com/2013/03/13/new-politics-offer-free-download-of-harlem[/link] download of ‘Harlem’ explains why its makers, New Politics, are big herrings in their native Copenhagen; hopping over the border to Norway, Dr åpe gift us the supremely chilled ‘Memories’ at [link]soundcloud.com/riot-factory/dr-pe-memories[/link]; Primal Scream debut another tune from their fab More Light album at[link]primalscream2013.tumblr.com/post/45979046257/new-single-its-alright-its-ok-taken-from-the#_=_l[/link] and Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield temporarily goes it alone at [link]www.npr.org/event/music/173425493/waxahatchee-live-in-concert-sxsw-2013?autoplay=true[/link]
 
Having been missing in action for a few years, Sligo’s Perry Blake resurfaces with new synthpop project ESB, AKA Electro Sensitive Behaviour.
Their debut single, ‘Michael Caine’ – no, not the Madness one – is released early next month on Reekus Records.
A delicious slice of retro cool, it reminds Team Hot Press’ more wizened members of Devo, Fad Gadget and The Monochrome Set.
Although flying under the Irish radar, Mr. Blake is big news in France where he’s regularly dented the top 30 and penned tunes for the likes of Françoise Hardy and Emilie Simon.

 
Vampire Weekend have debuted two more of the tracks from Modern Vampires Of The City album. ‘Diane Young’ and ‘Step’ are both monster tunes that will doubtless get an airing when they swing by Longitude in July.
 

 

 
Those of the power pop persuasion will love ‘Let’s Skateboard’, the first offering from The Not-Its! who feature assorted ex-members of Velocity Girl, Harvey Danger and Action Patrol.
 

 
Anyone who cites ‘70s Fleetwood Mac and Linda Rondstadt as key influences is guaranteed to pique the Free Music Friday interest, and Courtney Jaye turns out to be the real AOR deal.
The Sounds Of… six-tracker is free but you’re welcome to leave a tip.
 

 
Also new from the Noise Trade stable is this eponymous 13-track sampler from Norah Jane Struthers, which reminds us of Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch and the Mumfords.
 

 
If you’ve been seduced by the folk rock stylings of The Lumineers, there may also be room in your heart for The Oh Hellos. Residents of Angleton, Texas, Through The Deep is choc-full of rousing choruses and banjos of the insanely hyperactive kind.
 

 
 
On now to the week’s video treats and Cork-born, New York-domiciled singer-songwriter Niall Connolly has an eye-catching B&W clip to go with his ‘Samurai’ single.
 

 
As Trent Reznor prepares to unveil the new Nine Inch Nails, their 1997 Self-Destruct tour film has joined the ranks of the freely downloadable.
 

Nine Inch Nails: "Closure" part one: Self Destruct (1997) from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.

 
John Blek & The Rats are up next with the promo for ‘Don’t Take The Road I’ve Taken’, the first single to be lifted from their Leave Your Love At The Door album, which is out on May 3 and has an REM-ish feel.
 

Which is where we say, “thank you, goodnight, please come again” for another week. Comments and links as ever to @stuartclark66