It’s the Ides of October – Music Alliance Pact (MAP)

     As noted in previous blog entries, on the fifteenth (the "Ides") of each month the Music Alliance Pact (MAP) makes a collection of songs available for free and legal download. MAP is a collective of 29 blogs (at least) in an equal number of countries.  Each blog chooses a song by an artist from its home country for the monthly post.  Approval from each artist is a requirement. This month, there are 29 songs in the MAP collection.

     There are three options:

     1. You can merely listen to the 29 songs at one of the MAP authorized sites. For example, the Scottish participant is The Pop Cop, and the MAP page is accessed by CLICKING HERE.

       2. You can selectively download the songs by going to one of the MAP authorized sites and using the "Save as" capability of your web browser.

       3. You can download all 29 songs in a ZIP file at CLICK HERE. 
  We look forward to each collection of tracks from MAP, because of the promise of discovery. With certain songs on our personal playlists of favored music, we can identify a single instance that brought awareness of the song. That is, if not for a specific blog, concert or television program, it’s possible that we would be unaware of the song. More than once, the awareness stems from the MAP monthly offerings.

     The October MAP collection has a higher than usual number of songs with long-term potential. But after only listening to each song a couple of times, the predictions are not reliable. Still, we never shy away from giving our opinions.
     The contribution from Scotland is a song from There Will Be Fireworks. We introduced this Scottish band to Indie Obsessive on July 4, the holiday that is most closely associated with fireworks in the United States. “Roots” is featured in the October MAP offering. The song is another example of There Will Be Fireworks qualifying as a “guitar band” despite remaining understated in many of its songs. Our favorite by the band is still “Excelsis Deo,” but “Roots” is certainly worthwhile. Both songs are included below, but only "Roots" is available for free download by MAP.
     "Roots" by There Will Be Fireworks

     "Excelsis Deo" by There Will Be Fireworks (this is not a MAP download)


     The Canadian contribution is “There’s Always an End” by Twin Library. The song progresses merrily along, but kicks into a higher gear at about 1:55.

      “Moving to the City” is a song by Italy’s Green Like July. The Italian connection isn’t readily apparent. However, the band does have a connection with the U.S., which does seem apparent. “Moving to the City” was recorded in Nebraska. It's possible that the pop song will lose its appeal after a number of listens, but at the least, there is an initial appeal.

     Malta offers “The Outlaw” by FellowFish. Similar to “Moving to the City,” this contribution fits within the pop genre and has a connection with the U.S.

     Annie Eve (England) seems to invite comparisons with other artists. In the first portion of “Elvis,” the song sounds like another hit by Lorde. Later, a slide guitar and “woe as me” vocals more closely approach country western artists.

      A fan of the shoegaze experimental genre will likely appreciate the contribution from Greece.  “Ancestors” by Dalot puts a stranglehold on a shoegaze guitar at the 0:38 mark and only occasionally relaxes the grip, such as when the guitar steps back for the piano.

     Estonia offers “Imandra Lake” by Metsatants.