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A Smooth Soul Hip Hop holiday tune from Japan? Free? In Japanese? Oh, yeah, it don't get no better than that. Take a listen to Louvre's "New Year's Eve (With You)" and get the song free from Soundcloud. (Come on, you know you love it.) |
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I honestly don't know a thing about music (oh...you knew that already), but I do know what I like. And this sweet little instrumental from the Japanese brother and sister Indie Dream Pop/Toy Pop duo Chelsea Terrace is something I like. It's a more or less Ambient piece, partially inspired by the film The Polar Express and featuring strains of "Jingle Bells" and "Silent Night". And, if Google translate is to be trusted, it's part of an album the group is working on for next year--"The Electrical 7 Suite". And it's free via Soundcloud.
Now, as if that wasn't cool and Christmasy enough (or, for that matter, Japanese enough), Chelsea Terrace released a Christmas song last year, as well. "Goodbye Christmas" is a vocal tune that appeared on the group's "Telescope Future" CD (which is sold out, so don't bother looking for it). Some people are enchanted by the way French ladies sing (I get it; very sexy), but I love the sound of Christmas music sung by Japanese women. Don't know why, don't understand a word; it just strikes me as so delicate and beautiful. "Goodbye Christmas (Shooting Star Mix)" --with vocals and guitar by Mayumi, I believe--is also a free download from Chelsea Terrace on Soundcloud.
You may or may not recall that one of the big releases last year was "The Wexford Carols". The Wexford Carols are considered some of the most beautiful music ever written. To give the songs the respect they were due, some great vocalists were assembled--Caitríona O’Leary, Rhiannon Giddens, Roseanne Cash and Sir Tom Jones. The album got great reviews and, come on, Tom Jones... But still I took a pass. Possibly in the hopes that people like myself would reconsider, a five song sample is now available free through Noisetrade. And it just might work (on me, at least). At the very least, I'll likely buy the other Tom Jones track (they only gave him two leads? What were they thinking?).
Whether or not you want to reconsider, there's nothing like great vocalists singing beautiful Christmas music for free. No reason you shouldn't get you some "Wexford Carols" from Noisetrade. 
Wait. Did I know these folks were from the UK? I don't know if I did. I'm an idiot.
Golau Glau is an anonymous collective of artists, musicians and photographers and they can usually be counted upon to release a Christmas EP of fascinating experimental Electronica. This year, we get a single tune, bit one that remains "free and festive". "Adam Lay Ybounden" is an Olde English (technically macaronic English) poem from around 1400 AD. It was discovered centuries later among the poems and songs of a wandering minstrel. Since a wandering minstrel's "job" was to "entertain" (thereby earning tips and whatnot), the songs and poems they carried with them would cover a wide range--everything from deeply religious to depraved and bawdy. Most of their pieces, regardless of their subject matter, were delivered as satire and humor. Macaronic English was sort of a mongrel mix of various languages, including Latin. The term, itself, means "dumpling", a food considered "peasant fare". "Adam Lay Ybounden" is the minstrel's song of Adam following the fall of the Garden of Eden. Adam was condemned to spend "4000 winters" bound in Limbo from his banishment from the Garden until the crucifixion of Christ. "And all this for an apple", the song relates somewhat disdainfully, with the final verse expressing thanks to Jesus for eventually freeing Adam from bondage. At a time when the world was ruled by Kings who did pretty much as they pleased when they pleased--usually at the expense of the serfs and peasants--the tone of the piece was intended for them to relate...in essence: "look how unfair the punishment for the mere theft of a mere apple; praise Jesus for freeing him." And now that you are asleep from this dissertation of mine, enjoy "Adam Lay Ybounden" from Golau Glau. It's free on Bandcamp.  Hey, we get to stick another pin in the Christmas travels map. Although Tumulto is originally from Italy, the DJ/musician and visual artist recorded this for the Greek Fytini label last year. Tumulto has done some work here and there and produced the records of other artists. He's now believed to be working on his debut album.
In the midst of recent economic turmoil in Greece, Fytini issued a 44 track long Christmas concept album last year, "XMAX". I have a few Greek Christmas records in my collection (mostly stuff that was done at one time or another in the Eurovision competitions, then released commercially)--good stuff. So I rushed to download the collection without previewing it first. Let me potentially save you some time. Unless you're into the farthest of the far out--recordings of coughs, sneezing and flushing toilets, and spoken word pieces delivered over the most discordant sounds, there's not much to be done with the bulk of "XMAX". The periodic narrations are actually quite interesting but there isn't as much music as you'd think on a 44 track album and not much of it makes me feel like Christmas. Buried in "XMAX", however, is Tumulto's cover of Joni Mitchell's "River" and that one should be welcome in any holiday collection. Tumulto's Electro Pop rendition retains all of Joni's intended sadness and beauty, and may even add a level or two more. Tumulto's "River" is included in Fytini's "XMAX", which is free for the taking on Bandcamp. Grab the song (track 34) or the whole album (but preview first...just sayin'). 
01) Alice Bisi (Oh, Alice) - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
02) Hund - I'll Be Stoned For Christmas (Dent May cover) 03) Naughty Betsy - All I Want For Christmas (Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover) 04) Barbados - Just For A Place In Your Heart 05) Elizabeth Morris (Allo Darlin) - The Season (Padda remix) 06) OAK - Holiday (The Get Up Kids cover) 07) Husky Loops - Shy Guy 08) Baseball Gregg - Cyber Monday 09) Steven Lipsticks And His Magic Band - Christmas Thieves 10) Boys Age - Hey Oooh 11) X-Ray Picnic - Northern Exposure 12) Flood Regions - Leprechaun On The Moon 13) Yellow Yonder - The Runner 14) mesic - A Long December (Counting Crows cover) 15) RACE - Jesus Was A Communist (Reagan Youth cover) 16) Iron Only - Airplanes 17) SMASH - Switching Light 18) Qlowski - I Do not Wanna Be Capitalized 19) Wolther Rabbitt - Then there are secrets between us (demo) 20) Homelette - Song For U 21) Le Man Avec Les Lunettes - 15 Dollars For A Sandwich 22) Dj Bitterness - I Get Drunk Like Pizzul Because It's Xmas Without You 
Isn't that one of the best things you've ever heard? I don't even know if its a Christmas song. And I don't even care. And they're from Japan, believe it or not. Just wow. Mind blown.
A lot of our annual gifties have gone away. No Santastic this year. No Suburban Sprawl. No Alternate Root. No Cigar Box Nation. And this will be the last year for our annual present from Beta Radio. On the bright side, we still have Sofia Talvik's annual Christmas song, our stocking stuffer from Joe Algeri (the JAC), and the always superb collection from XO Publicity. My all-time favorite, though has to be "A Polaroid For Christmas". And they're back again this year with one of their biggest and best. Polaroid is an Italian music blog and, every year, the host of the blog asks bands and artists from all over the world if they might like to do a Christmas song--cover or original (or at least a song to keep one company whilst trimming the tree). And from that simple request comes some of the absolutely, hands down, no question BEST Indie Christmas music you will ever hear anywhere. Every year! It's unbelievable how good this stuff is. Some will make it into the circuit via Bandcamp or Soundcloud, but many/most will not. And it's free to download. Every year! We are truly living in blessed times (well, as far as free Indie Christmas music goes). There's always a little something for everyone--nice little Indie Pop tunes, Shoegaze, Electronica, LoFi Indie Rock, Alt Folk, Dream Pop, Punk Country...seriously, they'll run the gamut. Now...it's getting a bit late and, normally, I'd just go later and break it down for you. But Mrs. Katz (not her real name) has another doctor's appointment tomorrow (Shhh. I didn't tell her this time), so I need to get to bed. And, to tell you the truth, I listened to this whole thing and, if I were to list my favorites, I'd be listing about 20 of the 22 tracks. So I'm going to let you find your own favorites (it's all free, after all). I will mention my very, very favorites real quick--tracks 1, 5, 10, 11, 20 and 21. Go get the whole shootin' match from Polaroid. And should you find yourself wanting to dig deeper into the artists and their music (like Boys Age up there), Polaroid has everything all linked up for you.  Even with the Internets, finding out about EVERY new release is impossible. Some real good stuff flies completely under the Radar O'Reilly. I just tripped over this new album from Celkilt, which was released on CD overseas on November 22. Oddly, the shorter version of "Kiltmas Songs"--the EP version--was released digitally on Amazon the week before. But they still don't have a listing for the full album, even as an Import.
I can't swear to their genealogy, but Celkilt are a French band who wear kilts and sing Irish flavored Rock tunes. It's great stuff, if a little head-scatching. And, at least on "Kiltmas Songs", it sounds like they're having a party on every track. Sorry I missed this one until after I was broke. There's always next year. Anyway, Celkilt, in the spirit of the season, has an Advent Calendar at their website with each day bringing a new picture or video or future concert dates. Nestled in there on Day 9 is the only free download, so far. "Let It Snow" isn't included on either the digital EP or the digital single--only on the full "Kiltmas Songs" CD. So here's your chance to get it free from Celkilt. Simple enough. And they don't even want your email address. Merry Kiltmas! Kilts for everyone! 
I'm truly happy to see Nigerian music breaking through in this country. It's kind of neat. Of course, I've always enjoyed listening to Christmas music from far away places. It's something I used to long for as a kid. I'd be reading Billboard magazine, looking at the international charts at Christmas, and wondering why I couldn't listen to those songs.
Anyway, pardon the momentary reverie. Izzy Olaore was born in Nigeria, but was raised in the U.S. Then he moved back to Nigeria for a bit. And, for the moment, he seems to have settled in Nashville. How cool would it be to hear Nigerian Country music? Well, that's not what Izzy does. If anything, he brings in more of a Gospel flavor, though there's also a clear R&B/Hip Hop influence to "Noel". Izzy has a three song "Holiday Collection"--all three tunes free--up on Soundcloud. There's the regular mix of "Noel" and a third song, "Let's Go", which is more of a Club thing and doesn't strike me as all that holiday oriented. But the acoustic mix of "Noel" is the thing I liked here. Maybe I'm just getting too old (ain't no maybe about it, dude), but the other tracks are just too busy and loud for my head. The acoustic version of "Noel" appeals to me as a much more heartfelt and personal expression of the season. I ain't nobody special, but I'd be interested in hearing more from that guy. The bombastic, loud, Electro Funk Izzy...not so much. Just sayin'. 
This is interesting. We've been celebrating the Festival of Lights on the front page. This isn't Hanukkah music, but....
Anthony & Irene Chapman are from New England, but emigrated to Israel several years ago. Their holiday EP, "The Newborn King", features two versions each of two classic Christmas carols. The second version of each starts out the same but then goes on to feature lyrics sung in Hebrew. No doubt some traditionalists in each camp will find this difficult to accept, but I say, if we can bring music together, why not whole nations? Alright, alright, a little naive, even for me. But I do think its a great concept and it works great here. Even when the Christmas music of Anthony & Irene Chapman isn't featuring lyrics in Hebrew, the music, itself, is a fusion of influences. The Middle Eastern feel of "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" is undeniable and, while "Silent Night" has its share of Middle Eastern influence as well, what struck me on that one was the Progressive Jazz Fusion feel. The cumulative effect is both bracing and very appealing. Take away the Hebrew lyrics and you still have original arrangements and music that excites and stimulates. Dare I say "inspires"? Very cool. "The Newborn King" is available free from Bandcamp and Noisetrade. 
And now for something completely different.....
Actually, this new single from Nigerian Gospel artist Yoyo Micheal isn't all that different at all. That's one of the great things about Christmas music--it's pretty much universal. For the most part, "Osiwi", which means "Saviour", could just as easily have come from a contemporary performer of spiritual Soul in America. What I really dig about the tune, which begins with a bit of "Joyful Joyful" before taking off, is that you can hear the joy in the performance. It's not just a song Yoyo sings (she wrote it, too, by the way), it's clearly something she feels. And, if the singer legitimately feels the joy they're singing about, the listener can't help but feel it too (go on, Scrooge, give it a spin). Yoyo Micheal has only been recording since 2012 (though she's been singing since she was 8, when she was recruited by an adult choir). Her music has already received numerous awards and accolades in Nigeria (including "Best Gospel" for her 2014 single "Amen"). A part of the DBliss Media stable of artists, she is currently gearing up for her full-length debut. "Osiwi" is available as a free download through Soundcloud, courtesy of DBliss. You can follow Yoyo's career on Facebook. |
The FREE ListHere we hope to direct you to some of the Christmas music on the web that can be yours absolutely free. We will not direct you to mp3 or sharity sites, here, but only to artist sites, label sites, and other authorized and unquestionably legal locations. Archives2010 FREE List Categories
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