This sampler is no longer available. Find the latest free, independently released music here.
Beirut
Beirut mastermind Zach Condon has a reputation for world-music dabbling, but his forthcoming album The Rip Tide (August 30, Pompeii) is more of a pure pop affair, as enveloping and entrancing as a walk on the beach.
“East Harlem” by Beirut (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
Cats and Cats and Cats
Waving the flag of British anthem-punk, Cats and Cats and Cats combine smart lyrics and tongue-in-cheek antics with gutsy, rhythmic rock, not dissimilar from stateside rebels Titus Andronicus. The latest album–according to the band “stupidly titled Motherwhale“–is out July 4 on Function.
“Celebration” by Cats and Cats and Cats (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
John Maus
Call John Maus a retro electro futurist. Maus channels the indulgent vocal style of ’80s synth-pop, the cheesy beats of ’90s electronica, and washy soundscapes of 2050. We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves is out on Ribbon Music.
“Believer” by John Maus (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
Clive Tanaka y su orquestra
Imagine Daft Punk kickin’ back, sipping on a daiquiri, and remembering old girlfriends at a beachside barbeque in Japan. That’s the overall feel of Jet Set Siempre No. 1, whichis divided into “For Dance” and “For Romance” sections. Out on Tall Corn.
“Lonely for the Highscrapers” by Clive Tanaka y su orquestra (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
Seun Anikulapo Kuti
The son of Afrobeat legend Fela carries on his father’s fiery legacy with a magnificently funky new album, From Africa With Fury: Rise, on Knitting Factory Records.
“Rise” by Sean Anikulapo Kuti (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
Bobby
Folk, pop, and electronica gently collide in the gauzy music of Bobby, a group that includes Molly Sarle of the mesmerizing trio Mountain Man, on its self-titled debut on Partisan Records.
“Sore Spores” by Bobby (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
Sorry Bamba
Downtrodden after being orphaned by his noble Malian family at a young age, Sorry Bamba picked up a six-holed flute. The rest of Bamba’s pan-genre career, as they say, is history. Volume One: 1970-1979, a collection of psychedelic afro-rock, is out on Thrill Jockey.
“Sayouwe” by Sorry Bamba (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
Asa
This up-and-coming pop diva hails from Lagos, Nigeria, and brings an aesthetic inclusiveness to her debut album, Beautiful Imperfection (September 6, Naïve). Elements of ska, funk, R&B, soul, world, and especially reggae breeze beneath her effervescent vocals, sung in both English and Yoruba.
“Why Can’t We” by Asa (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
Takahiro Kido
You probably didn’t know that there is a niche for contemporary, classically based instrumental folk in Japan, but the scene is big and vibrant. Takahiro Kido’s Fairy Tale (July 20, Ricco Label) is a perfect entry to the genre, gently rolling between measured folktronica and triumphant, glimmering bliss.
“Rust Summer in Tokyo” by Takahiro Kido (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
Esmerine
Released after the band’s six-year hiatus, Esmerine’s La Lechuza (Constellation) adds haunting vocals, whispering harp, and tasteful auxiliary percussion to an already a superb contemporary chamber music album.
“Last Waltz” by Esmerine (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
Mimi Goese and Ben Neill
Goese and Neill make art songs for the indie set, fusing melodies by classical composers–Berlioz, Strauss, Grieg, and more–with fresh lyrics on Songs for Persephone, which comes out August 30 on Ramseur Records. The result is ageless and arresting music.
“Blackpool” by Mimi Goese and Ben Neill (To download, right click on the link and “Save Target As.”)
