I last logged onto the US National Public Radio site back when Dark Night of The Soul, the fantastic star-studded collaboration between Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse (with artwork by David Lynch) was released to the public, and I must admit I’d completely forgotten about their ‘First Listen’ section up until now.
Basically, they’ve got a section on their website where you can click through to listen to streams of brand new albums, weeks before they hit shelves, and it’s COMPLETELY FREE. There’s no email sign-ups or other hoops to jump through, just unrestricted access to the latest music. As far as I can tell, there’s a short audio advertisement that runs at the start of the first track you listen to, but from there it’s clear sailing.
Right now, they’re streaming the new David Byrne and Fatboy Slim collaboration, Here Lies Love, that tells the story of Imelda Marcos, the wife of the late Filipino dictator (with another star-studded list of vocalists attached), as well as brand new albums from She & Him, Jonsi (of Sigur Ros) and Black Prairie (featuring members of The Decemberists)!
Coming soon is the new Broken Social Scene album (their first in five years), as well as the New Pornographer’s first outing since 2007.
So what are you waiting for? Head over here for some exclusive free album love.
(By the way, Dark Night of The Soul is still available to listen to on the site here. Thank god for public broadcasting eh? It’s a credit to NPR that the service isn’t restricted to US citizens only too…)
