RockRoast

Thanks to a recent blog post from the WFMU radio station, I’ve been made aware of a band who’s entire discography is available online for free.

Go back and read that again. Yeah, it’s free. Pretty much all of it, including compilations and live performances. I think there’s even a single thrown in there. But the catch is that the band is Bourbonese Qualk. It’s not like U2 decided to make their dozens and dozens of well-known, well-loved songs available for free. It’s Bourbonese Qualk.

Never heard of them? I hadn’t. Apparently they were an experimental band formed in the early eighties. From 1983 to 2000, they released nine full-length albums. They disbanded following the death of guitarist Miles Miles in 2002. Since then, former members of the band have dedicated a website to the free distribution of their music.

I’m only finishing up their second album now, but so far the music has been very intriguing. “Experimental” certainly is the easiest way to describe Bourbonese Qualk, but it’s not an exact descriptor. What I’ve heard so far is ambient music that, in places, is strongly reminiscent of funk, no wave and electronica. I’m also wondering if this stuff is one of the earlier incarnations of–or at least an influence on–post-rock. It’s weird. It really is. But it’s also kind of cool.

If you’re interested in ambient, funk, no wave, electronica, post-rock, or the broad genre of “experimental music,” you should give it a try. All nine albums are available at . Download to your ears’ content.

Although, a word of advice…if you try going through it chronologically and you don’t like the first album, Laughing Afternoon, don’t give up just yet. I didn’t much like Laughing Afternoon, either, but I found Hope to be much more enjoyable.