It’s Friday, and we’re back with another installment of our regular roundup of downloadable MP3 goodness, both from around the web and from our own servers. This week there’s a taste of Damon Albarn’s opera, several slices of pleasantly atmospheric electronic music, a couple of remixes of a new JD Samson track, an epic live track from Seun Kuti, and lots more to be had. In other words, there’s plenty of interesting sounds awaiting you after the jump, and since they won’t cost a penny or land you an RIAA lawsuit, as your attorneys we advise you to start downloading immediately.
Damon Albarn — “The Dancing King” The endlessly prolific Damon Albarn has turned his hand to opera of late, and if you’re wondering exactly what such a thing might sound like, then wonder no longer — “The Dancing King,” which is the final track off the opera’s accompanying soundtrack album, is available for download via the NME (in exchange for your email address.) You can also hear snippets of all the album’s tracks at This is Fake DIY.
JD Samson and MEN — “Make Him Pay” (Ezekiel remix and AKA JK Dub remix) Speaking of prolific, JD Samson’s MEN are releasing four EPs this year — the second, entitled Time is out on May 8, and it comes with a couple of remixes of its final track “Make Him Pay,” both of which are available for free download right now via the band’s Soundcloud page. The first, by Ezekiel, is here, while the second — which apparently includes production by two members of Cobra Starship, curiously — is here.
Young Hunting — “A List of Indignities” We are basically all for anything released on most excellent London label Blackest Ever Black, and as such we hurried to download this new track by Edinburgh producers Young Hunting. The song doesn’t disappoint — it sounds like some sort of futuristic funeral march, and it’s available via our friends at The Quietus.
Gold Panda — “4” While we’re on atmospheric electronic music, here’s something a little more lighthearted from Gold Panda — a gentle mixture of beats, quiet acoustic guitar, and a smattering of vocal samples. It’s very pleasant for a lazy Friday afternoon (especially being as it’s 4/20 and all.) Get the track via Stereogum.
Seun Kuti and the Egypt 80 — “Slave Masters” We discussed the Kuti family earlier this week, so it seems timely to be able to share this belting live version of “Slave Masters,” which is up for free download at KCRW. As with all KCRW’s downloads, it’s up for today only, so get your skates on and grab it while it’s going.
Bushwalking — “Visual Jam Doughnut” A side project for Nisa Venerosa of the excellent Fabulous Diamonds, Bushwalking’s sound retains the minimalist drone flavors of that band but adds atmospheric guitar to the mix — the result wouldn’t sound out of place on a David Lynch soundtrack. (Bushwalking, if you’re wondering, is the Australian term for hiking.) Check it out via The Fader.
Grass Widow — “Goldilocks Zone” In a not dissimilar vein, here’s a track from excellent San Francisco post punk types Grass Widow’s upcoming album Internal Logic, which is due out on May 29 via their own label HLR. You can get it via the band’s Soundcloud.
Dana Buoy — “So Lucky” Another side project here — Dana Buoy is the solo incarnation of Akron/Family’s Dana Janssen. This track is taken from his debut album Summer Bodies, which is due out next month and was apparently recorded in “a bungalow near a jungle lagoon in Thailand.” Life’s a bitch, eh? This track’s available via The Fader.
Nite Jewel — “One Second of Love” (Peaking Lights One Love remix) We weren’t quite as impressed with Nite Jewel’s recent album One Second of Love as we thought we might be, but we are rather partial to this mildly spacey remix of the title track by West Coast space cadets Peaking Lights. Get it via Gorilla vs Bear.
Phèdre — “Aphrodite” And finally, also on the spacey pop music tip, here’s a new single from Greek mythology-lovin’ Monaco three-piece Phèdre. The track’s from their self-titled debut, which came out in February, and is being offered for free download at Prefix.