Christmas is over and done with, which means that the insufferable barrage of carols is over for another year and you’ve probably got a few days off to sit and devour some new music. If Santa didn’t fill your stocking with a bunch of new tunes, never fear — plenty of artists are giving away free stuff in a display of seasonal altruism. Or clever digital marketing. Or something. Here’s a round-up of the best action to be had.
Gorillaz – The Fall As has been well-documented, Gorillaz’ new album The Fall was recorded on an iPad, and it’s streaming for free at the band’s website. You can also download it, although that involves shelling out to sign up for the band’s fanclub.
Yeasayer – Live at Ancien Belgique Yeasayer do the In Rainbows-style pay-what-you-like thing with this live album, which comprises 13 songs recorded in Brussels earlier this year. You can pay anything from nothing to $10 for the record, and you can get hold of it right here.
Klaxons – Landmarks of Lunacy This “new” EP from Klaxons actually dates from 2008 — it’s a series of songs they recorded with Simian Mobile Disco producer James Ford, which haven’t seen the light of day until now. You can stream all the songs via their website, and download them for free should you so desire.
Mike Simonetti – “Brother Louie” (re-edit) Italians Do It Better head honcho Mike Simonetti provides a suitably sumptuous disco-inflected reworking of ’70s inter-racial love affair story “Brother Louie” (although he’s called it “Louie, Louie” for some reason). Get it at SoundCloud.
Atlas Sound – “Artificial Snow” Bradford Cox isn’t averse to dealing out free music (even if Sony tried to stop him giving away his own tunes), and he’s come through with the goods again with a bunch of demos for a new Deerhunter song, recorded for a Christmas compilation. The song is kinda Christmas-y, but never fear – it also features the lyric “Nativity scenes make me nauseous.” You can find the demos for download at the band’s blog.
Skream- The Freeizm Album Meanwhile, UK dubstep producer Skream is giving away an entire album’s worth of cuts recorded over the last few years. You can get them via this SendSpace link.
jj – Kills And to finish up, here’s a killer mixtape from Swedish production duo jj. If you’ll excuse the pun.