At the end of each year we like to collect our favourite ‘name your price’ music on Bandcamp (or free ones elsewhere). 2016 was another year chock full of great, financially flexible releases, so over the next week or so we’ll be sharing the list in alphabetically arranged segments.
Much has been said recently about how political turmoil and social instability will provide fertile conditions for great art, and whether or not you subscribe to this idea, we’re pretty sure that paying artists makes for even better soil in which to sow creative seeds. The title to this post says ‘free’ music because it’s snappier than ‘name your price’ music, but really that’s a convenient/attention-grabbing misnomer. Bandcamp provides pretty much the most direct way for us to connect directly with musicians and support their work from all over the world, so why don’t we utilise this tool and ensure that art perseveres in the face of everything else that’s going on?
Anyhow, here’s the first segment of the list, covering artists beginning with A – D. We don’t pretend to be in any way comprehensive, so let us know if we missed your favourite and maybe we’ll add it to the list.
Albosel – Container
(RIYL: folk, dream pop, magic woods)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2055565937 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=480601092]
Alexandra Gordon – Rain Songs
(RIYL: bedroom pop, folk, Free Cake For Every Creature)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=260115691 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=322439298]
BB Cream – s/t
(RIYL: pop punk, bedroom pop, lo-fi, grrrl power)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3885149403 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]
Bedbug – if i got smaller grew wings and flew away for good
(RIYL: experimental, twee, sincerity)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3229487302 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=2102026209]
Betty Becky – s/t / All the Boyfriends
(RIYL: bedroom pop, punk, lo-fi)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2120492042 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=1732536921]
Blue Smiley – Return
(RIYL: garage rock, fuzz, dream pop)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=1833566309 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=2245569026]
Bois – Asleep with Songs of Longing
(RIYL: pop, soul, indie rock)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2301268368 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=1322464045]
Boy Scouts – Homeroom Breakfast
(RIYL: bedroom pop, folk, self-reflection)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2939551087 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=487369986]
Cabbage/Oxblood – Split
(RIYL: bedroom pop, post-grunge, slacker rock)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3225527582 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=2746220863]
Candy – Azure
(RIYL: jangle rock, dream pop, lo-fi)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=892816088 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=1886769654]
猫 シ Corp. – News at 11
(RIYL: vapourwave, 90s TV, mass media)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3186932995 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=1806718170]
Cayetana – Tired Eyes
(RIYL: indie rock, jangle pop, punk)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3435807701 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]
Cereal + Sounds & Z Tapes – FRY YR BRN
(RIYL: indie rock, covers, TV theme songs)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=664248388 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=3222752824]
Coping Skills – Relatable Web Content
(RIYL: lo-fi, bedroom pop, Millennial angst)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2883257363 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=1934395707]
Constant Companion – Curious Design
(RIYL: pop punk, lo-fi, indie rock)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=4064766682 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=3076104684]
Corvus B. – France, Later
(RIYL: poetry, spoken word, haunting banjo)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=137275877 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=3090606890]
Crabapple – Further Out
(RIYL: indie pop, summer jams, lo-fi)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2351814878 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=2132656089]
Daytime TV – DAYTIME TV 2
(RIYL: indie pop, lo-fi, rock)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=49464793 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=3398831489]
Deer Scout – Customs
(RIYL: folk, singer songwriter, Gregory and the Hawk)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=1552722512 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=1055834159]
Dogbreth – Second Home
(RIYL: pop punk, Cloud Nothings, Joyride!, rock ‘n roll fun)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2388014511 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=2538021633]
Dowsing / Ratboys – Split
(RIYL: indie rock, pop punk, emo)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=3269704115 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=2913828356]
Dying Adolescence – Dear you, It can’t wait.
(RIYL: bedroom pop, lo-fi, teenage feelings)
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=4112647660 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=3212845900]