ON THE RECORD:Covering the music business beat means encountering a lot of gloom and despair. There are times when you feel every label exec is channeling Private Frazer from Dad's Armywith anguished cries of "we're doomed".
But pessimism won't get you very far and there are thankfully some in the industry who aren't prepared to watch their business disappear from under them.
Side One Dummy label boss Bill Armstrong is one of these: he sold his house in order to bring The New Record website into the world.
There are plenty of other websites out there doing what The New Record does in giving away free tracks from upcoming albums.
The New Record twist is that there are 30 labels involved, with Armstrong's "digital newstand" featuring Sub Pop, Anti, Kill Rock Stars, Daptone and others.
Currently only available (officially) to users in the United States, the New Record hopes it will lead fans to purchase albums and, more importantly, give the labels data on who is interested in their acts.
Much has been said and written about the demise of the traditional label model, yet optimists like Armstrong believe they still serve a purpose. "There was a time when label loyalty meant a lot, but it's been so diluted," Armstrong says.
"In this world of filters, labels are great filters. I know if something comes with a Sub Pop logo on it, it's going to be good. It may not be my taste, and it may not be what I'm into, but I know it will have a level of quality."
The New Record may well demonstrate that labels still possess this strength and intangiable market advantage.
Hopefully too, others in the sector will give new projects and ideas a go, rather than sit back and passively wait for the end.
NEW MUSIC
ALABAMA SHAKESWham-bam souled-out rock and r'n'b from the Athens, Alabama band who will attracting a ton of attention at this week's CMJ festival in New York thanks to superb retrofit tunes like I Found Youand You Ain't Aloneand Brittany Howard's magnificent voice.
Alabamashakes.com
SCNTST
Newly signed to the Boysnoize label, SCNTST is teenage German producer Bryan Muller whose dastardly techno cuts, recorded after just a year’s hand-on experience with Ableton, are fresh and thrilling. The mind boggles at the thought of what the kid is going to produce next.
Soundcloud.com/SCNTST
DAVILA 666
The first Puerto Rican band to feature in the New Music despatches, we're digging Davila 666's rowdy, scuzzy, fuzzy, gleeful garage-pop. What's not to love when you have tracks like Esa Nena Nunca Regresofrom the six Davilas blasting your ears?
Myspace.com/davila666
NOW PLAYING
ASAP Rocky Out of This World(Polo Grounds) New-school New York rap shizzle from the Harlem born-and-bred MC destined for bigger things in 2012.
Little Xs for Eyes S.A.D.(Self release) Debut album from the Dublin-based group blessed with dashing harmonies and wistful, wry, infectious tunes.
Grimes Oblivion(Arbutus) One of our finds at SXSW 2011, Montreal's Claire Boucher gets ready for lift-off with this hypnotic groove from forthcoming album Visions.
The Lijadu Sisters Afro-Beat Soul Sisters(Soul Jazz) Superb compilation of the Nigerian twin sisters' heavyweight Afrofunk releases for the Afrodisia label from 1976 to 1979.
Leslie Winer Witch(Transglobal) From 1993, Leslie Winer's debut remains a rare gem, an album of spacey, dubby, blunted beats and trippy, enigmatic lyrics.
