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The blogging community got a major reshuffle this month. Relations between labels and bloggers have been uneasy to say the least. Not surprising really, as labels sell music to make money, and bloggers like to give it away for the ‘good of the listener’. It’s the good ‘ol socialist/capitalist fight of the cold war being replayed within the confines of the music industry. Luckily though, thanks to a major new partnership, the majors might have just avoided having their very own Vietnam.

The premise is simple: Sound Cloud, the music-specific file host (where you can upload and share your tracks between groups or individuals) is linking up with music portal The Hype Machine – the ‘Google’ of blogs – to ensure that the customer still gets free tunes, but that the labels also get what they need. Instead of songs hosted separately each time they’re posted, all downloads will now all have to stem from an original Sound Cloud file which the label uploads for the use of bloggers. In return for Sound Cloud getting lots more traffic, and us getting free music, the labels will get data from Sound Cloud; how many downloads a track has had, how many plays, from where in the world it has been downloaded, and more.

It’s a clever move, and one which seems to herald the sustainability of not just blogs, but also of the music industry, as the debate still rages as to how music can still possibly be made with less and less of it being paid for. In the future, are we likely to see all free music? Just that, when you download a track the artist gains general details about you, which means that if a lot of kids from one place all download the same track, said artist can turn up the next month, whether the town is well known or not, venue decent or a bit decrepit, and expect a sell out show just because they know exactly where the fans are. It’s an interesting concept. These big hitters have been borrowing heavily from new artist service Music Glue, helping out The Joy Formidable and Enter Shikari on the way. The major difference being that Music Glue is for unsigned bands, this new service set out to do much the same but for the infrastructure and the benefit of the big cheeses.

Crisis averted (?), here’s five free tracks for February…

NOTE: For those of you who are computer illiterate, any of these tracks which aren’t downloadable from any file sharing sites such as Z-Share or YouSENDIt can be downloaded directly, by right clicking the link of the song on the blog and choosing ‘Save Target As’… Easy!

Vivian Girls – He’s Gone
I didn’t find this track in time for Valentines on purpose, it just sorted of appeared. Weird thing, fate, and here the Vivian Girls don’t seem to be having it very good. Early Motown production qualities, that 7” you just found in your gran’s secret box kind of aesthetic; if it’s vintage heartache your feeling, you can get it here. If you were planning to invest in one of those cheap ‘heartbreakers’ compilation albums for the 14^th, get this for free and whack it on straight after ‘Heard It Through The Grapevine’. Just make sure you have the tissues ready. 
http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=122&title=title_370&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 

Mos Def – Quiet Dog
Lil Wayne’s gone mad (check ‘The Carter’ documentary for proof), Jay Z’s gone stadium. Mainstream R’n’B is, well, cringe worthy. If hip hop and its genre associates are starting to look like it’s in the same bloated state as rock was circa ’75, logically then, somewhere along the line there’ll be Buzzcocks or Sex Pistols to stir it all up. Mos Def has been handpicked by Daman Albarn to appear on the upcoming Gorillaz album and bloggers who usually spend 1,000 words re-defining Animal Collective are all drooling over this man. Why now? It’s been over ten years coming. In that time he’s been part of an underground hip-hop collective. De La Soul have welcomed him, Def has even designed a pair of Converse’s. He still has never quite made the jump from ‘rising talent’ to big player. This three minute percussion heavy (no synth! no keys!) dance floor filler has as much in common with Diplo as it does with N.W.A. Let’s hope this New Yorker doesn’t stay in the shadows for much longer.
http://awmusic.ca/2010/02/03/mos-def-the-ecstatic-review-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AWmusic+%28AWmusic%29

Mos Def (cold, presumably)

 Monarchy – The Phoenix Alive
I know, I know, two tracks from the same blog in one post. I haven’t been bribed, honest, this particular writer must’ve pushed the right buttons this month is all. Anyway, onto the band… well, there isn’t much to say about them. There isn’t much known about them. They’ve been in a band previously, they’re from London, they’re inspired by the synth indie pop bands doing the rounds at the moment. They’ve got a fan base seemingly far too large for a band with so few gigs, and tracks. In this day and age the consensus is, if you don’t know what a band likes to eat for breakfast most people feel they can’t possibly invest time into them. Although this is perhaps good for rubbish bands who have a lot to say, Monarchy have laid the foundations musically for something far more exciting than anything others could do post MTV-doc. It’s like they’ve got a bag of swag on a string, and we’re all running to try and catch it. 
http://awmusic.ca/2010/01/15/monarchy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AWmusic+%28AWmusic%29

First Aid Kit – Hard Believer
These Swedish sisters teamed up in 2007 at the ages of 17 and 14 and started composing songs. Four years later and signed to one of England’s most respected labels (Wichita) they’ve released their debut album, surpassing what their age suggests their talent is limited to by a mile stone. The compositions, the tenderness and most notably the lyrics all pour from the record with precision production and amazing tracks. I’m not a fan of folk, but there’s an extra spark here which gives First Aid Kit an edge. Despite looking a bit awkward in videos and on press shots, it seems in the confines of the studio there are no barriers. What, you’re a metal fan with a heart of iron? It’ll be melted in minutes as ‘Hard Believer’ seeps through the speakers. 
http://songbytoad.com/2010/02/first-aid-kit-the-big-black-the-blue/

Kap Bambino – Red Sign
Jeeessus, what’s that in my ear? What’s that distorted vocal doing to my head, what’s that driving guitar doing to my arms? It’s driving me absolutely insane… but in an amazing way. French duo Kap Bambino start the European fight back at Brit noise groups and throw in some Crystal Castles to the Place To Bury Strangers formula.
http://www.stoneyroads.com/ohmy-god-its-kap-bambino/2010/02/02/

Nicholas Burman