Free Download Friday #134: Fourth Friday In Advent

Give Love On Chrsitmas

To make up for what is possibly the latest Free Download Friday ever, here's an eleven track Christmas download:

This is another one where you can download the tracks for free but, if you want, you can make a donation to a charity; in this case to a charity called Blood:Water Mission. The Noise Trade site gives the following information about the charity:

Blood:Water Mission was established by Grammy Award winning band Jars of Clay to empower communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in sub-Saharan Africa. Since its launch in 2005, Blood:Water has raised millions of dollars through the creative efforts of individuals seeking to make a difference. To date, Blood:Water has partnered with more than 1,300 communities in Africa, providing life-saving water for 800,000 people in 11 different countries and access to HIV/AIDS education, treatment and support for nearly 40,000 people.

Have a good Christmas!

Free Download Friday #67: Peter Gabriel

Following on from the review of the Full Moon Club iPhone app, it seemed appropriate to link to a free download from Mr Gabriel.

152/365: I am... Peter Gabriel
Originally uploaded by DavidDMuir

You can Download 'Here Comes The Flood' from Peter Gabriel's Guitar Center Session. Here Comes The Flood is a song from his first solo album: Peter Gabriel Vol.1 and was always one of my favourites. Recently he has been doing a stripped back version of it that, like much of Gabriel's work, has grown on me with repeated listens.

If you are a fan of Mr Gabriel, you might also be interested in The Voice Project that one of his daughters is involved with. The project is working with women in and around Northern Uganda. There are opportunities to make a donation and support the work they are doing but they see the project as doing more than just charity work.

One of the most prominent aspects of the website is the cover chains. One artist records a cover song and the artist covered has to record another cover to pass on the challenge. For example, the Gulu Women's Choir in Northern Uganda were videoed singing a Joe Purdy song, he recorded something by REM, Mike Mills (from REM) then recorded a Billy Brag song and Billy recorded something from Joanna Newsom.

Peter Gabriel is currently featuring at the end of a chain with his cover of a Tom Waits song:

Peter Gabriel » Tom Waits from The Voice Project on Vimeo.

I hope Mr Waits picks up the challenge!

What are your favourites from the chains on display so far?

Free Download Friday #57: Another charity download

Omar Rodríguez-López (The Mars Volta) and John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) recorded a seven track instrumental album which they have made available for download.

The Mars Volta@Teatro Romano di Ostia Antica 29/07/08
Originally uploaded by redbanshee

Like the Music for Haiti charity download (Free Download Friday #43: Music for Relief - Haiti Earthquake), you have the option of downloading the tracks for free. If though, you choose to make a donation, all money raised will be given to the "Keep Music In Schools" programme. My only problem with this is that I can't find any information on that charity. Can anyone shed any light?

The tracks are... interesting. Definitely more Volta-style progy than Chilli-style funky. It's not exactly easy listening or background music but it is interesting and I suspect you will find that it rewards repeated listens. My favourite track is 0. (Yes, that's the title - 0.) I don't really get the track names so I'll be much obliged if anyone can explain the significance to me!

Let me know what you think of this charity download. Does it work for you or is it too odd?