Free music download recommendations?

Numpty112233

I sometimes dip into the “What are you currently listening to…” thread but haven’t yet contributed and don’t want to gatecrash it with something more specific, i.e.


FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS RECOMMENDATIONS


A bit slow on the uptake, it was only a year or two ago I discovered Bandcamp. Most of the music on there is free lossy streaming or download at your choice of file size at cost - which is perfectly fair enough.


But some of it can be downloaded lossless at “Name Your Price” which includes $0 no catch.


Some of it is a bit ropey but a lot is really rather good. I generally have a policy that if I listen to something I have downloaded for free more than 3 times then I will download another album from the same artist and pay - but that is entirely my conscience.


Can anyone else out there recommend any free lossless downloads, whether from Bandcamp or elsewhere?


To start off this game then let’s begin with a big one - Jumpsuit Records, a label with a number of artists and a policy of “Name Your Price” for all. As an introduction this is a mix which I am currently listening to as an aiff file 24 bit 44,100 downloaded onto my mac then USB to my Denon PMA-2500NE amp as PCM 384kHz 32 bit - so definitely decent s.q.


Jumpsuit Mixtape Vol. 1 Mixed By SaQi, by SaQi & Various Artists


Prefer classical?


J.S. Bach: "Open" Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Piano), by Kimiko Ishizaka


Dub Reggae to really test the bass in your system?


Submersion, by kanka


Something more “Enya-esque”?


Antidote, by Yaima


Something far more lively than Enya?


Road Goes All Night, by Dirtwire

Timmy C

A little different to your recommendations and I've posted links to this band in the metal thread in the past but they are , in my opinion, too good not to share again. I would go as far as saying Hellripper are the best metal band I've heard since the 80's but then I do have old school taste so perhaps not everyone would agree. For fans of Motorhead, early Metallica, 80's thrash, punk influenced metal etc. The ep is only free from their US labels bandcamp but I've also posted a link to the bands own bandcamp but I think only the comp is free on there...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Black Arts & Alchemy, by HELLRIPPER                                                                                                        4 track album                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                reapermetalproductions.bandcamp.com                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Coagulating Darkness, by Hellripper                                                                                                        8 track album                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                hellripper.bandcamp.com                                                                               
For those that prefer things a little less in your face, Iron Chic are a fantastic punk/indie/rock band from Long Island, New York. I think most of their stuff is 'pay what you want' and it's all good but this album, their first one, will always be my favourite...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Not Like This, by Iron Chic                                                                                                        10 track album                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ironchic.bandcamp.com

Numpty112233

Hellripper is subtle easy listening lol.
If that's your thing then I give you
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STRANGLED, by L'Enfant De La Forêt                                                                                                        14 track album                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                enfantdelaforet.bandcamp.com                                                                                My tried and tested recommended way of listening to this is
1. Turn volume to loud
2. sit partner in front of speakers (preferably on something waterproof)
3. Turn out the lights so it is pitch black
4. Press play
5. Explain to everyone the next day how you walked into a door
Iron Chic is more my thing than Hellripper. Will give it a few listens

BlueWizard

Not wanting to be a BuzzKill, but is this legal?

Free Streaming in Radio format is legal, but I'm not sure Downloads are.

Steve/bluewizard

Numpty112233

I believe so - it is explicitly clear in the blurb that you are able to with full permission - indeed sometimes suggest that is what is wanted (eg in the case where performers have been paid by grant to make their music free to all . Also where musicians want to get known etc as a marketing ploy. Like U2 making their album free on Apple).
If it wasn't legal then Bandcamp wouldn't facilitate it
Have a look on the links above

gibbsy

I have looked at the links and they are legal. Their copyright policy can be found here:
                                                                                                                                                                                                        Copyright | Bandcamp                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        bandcamp.com                                                                               
Members posting such links should ensure that the site they are linking to is entirely legal.

Numpty112233

Members posting such links should ensure that the site they are linking to is entirely legal.
[/QUOTE]
I did - see post 5 - but thank you for confirming. Appreciated. ’Tis a pity those so quick to suggest aspersions are not so fast with their fact checking and slower yet with apology, but c’est la vie.


In this fast moving society it is no longer the case that record label managers could dismiss the vast majority of musicians sending in FREE demo tapes to be left in obscurity so that the cabal of the labels, the “chosen few” and the very limited number of radio stations could all get obscenely rich at the expense of us, the consumer. When I was my son’s age I had a veritable collection of LPs and CDs all purchased “blind” i.e. without hearing them first. By comparison my son has very little purchased music but prefers instead to stream for free (other than consuming adverts as well) on You Tube. Others prefer Spotify etc. So quite the reversal in just one generation.


SACDs of Dire Straits and Steely Dan are excellent - but there is a whole world of music and new musicians out there beyond the familiar awaiting discovery.


From what I can see of Bandcamp is that they provide an opportunity for those musicians who would otherwise be ignored by record labels to market themselves direct to the public. It seems the musicians themselves decide how much to charge for their music to be downloaded. Most charge, which as I stated in my o.p. is fair enough, and I have purchased much music that way (I am currently listening to the excellent I Met Her By The River, by Dawda Jobarteh which I acquired this way), however when there is so much to choose from I need less persuading to download music free of charge to see if it grows on me - to give it a chance. I guess this is sort of playing the role of the record label manager. If it does, then as stated in my o.p., I feel morally obliged to purchase, with money, a second, third etc album from the same artist even when they are (legally) made available free. (Indeed I am sent emails with links to new releases available for free - so the artist can hardly be upset, quite the opposite!) As the artist wishes to increase fanbase and needs to compete with free streaming etc. and I increase my musical repertoire in a way I wouldn’t otherwise have I see this as a win - win.


In this vein may I suggest the following “Name Your Price” ;-





Projekt - Spring 2019 (free download!), by Various Artists





Mira, by Tropo





Open Ancient Eyes, by Kalya Scintilla





Anyone else?

Timmy C

Bandcamp is not just for unsigned artists trying to get themselves heard although it can be good for that. Huge multi million dollar independent labels such as Epitaph and Fat Wreck Chords have bandcamp pages featuring some or all of their signed artists although they aren't generally pay want you want and have a set minimum price. Being into the more underground styles of music myself, bandcamp has now overtaken youtube for me as the first place I look when someone recommends a band and I want to check them out.