Free Sampler From 4AD

4adThe huge UK record label 4AD are back in action again at the end of the year with another free sampler that highlights their releases from 2010.  You’ll see ATH favorites Camera Obscura, Big Pink, M. Ward, and a slew of others.  You’ll also find this gem from The National called “So Far Around the Bend” which appeared on the Dark Was the Night compilation.  The sampler is free to download for the price of an email address.  While you’re at it, check out the sampler released by 4AD around this time last year.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/1-05-So-Far-Around-The-Bend.mp3]

Download: The National – So Far Around The Bend [MP3]

New Tunes from David Byrne and Dirty Projectors

David ByrneThey first teamed up together to create a brilliant track for the Dark Was the Night project, and now they’ve gone at it again; Dirty Projectors have collaborated with Talking Head David Byrne. This new tune is not of the same vein as the formerly released track, “Knotty Pine,” but it showcases the skills of both groups.  Don’t forget, you’re supposed to be anticipating the upcoming album from the Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca.  More on that later; here’s “Ambulance Man.”

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/dirty-projectors-and-david-byrne-ambulance-man.mp3]

Download: Dirty Projectors and David Byrne – Ambulance Man [MP3]

Yeasayer – Tightrope

yeasayerSo as many of you may know, a huge new compilation disc called Dark Was the Night was recently released by the 4AD record label and Yeasayer laid down this track for it.  We’ve loved ‘Tightrope” since we first saw it on The Current and then again on La Blogotheque so we were excited to hear that the band was giving the jam a proper recording session.  But then bummer, the Dark Was the Night version just didn’t compare to the live tracks.  Maybe the band felt the same way and maybe that’s why they played/filmed yet another version of the song for the fine folks at 4AD (or maybe they can’t make up their damn mind).  This new version brings in the banjo with some melodica and can be heard/seen over on youtube.  It’s way cooler than this studio version.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/yeas_tightrope.mp3]

Download: Yeasayer – Tightrope [MP3]