We shouldn’t be blowing our own trumpets – metaphorical or otherwise – but we reckon this could be the best Free Music Friday yet!

No FMF is complete without a special little something from our good friends The National, and this week is no exception. The chaps have dug through the archives to unearth this demo version of 2005’s ‘High Beams’.

[link]www.soundcloud.com/brassland/the-national-high-beams[/link]

Not to be outdone by Killers bandmates Brandon Flowers and Ronnie Vannucci Jr., Mark Stoermer has come up with a debut solo offering, Another Life, which A) Is somewhat in thrall to Bob Dylan and The Band and B) He’s giving away for free. Generous chap. Find it @ [link]www.markstoermer.com[/link]

We are very much liking the Shane Delahunty-directed video for Bell X1’s new single, ‘Sugar High’, which is out on November 25.
“Ireland is in ways a microcosm or concentrated dose of the madness that has us all sloshing around in the shit,” Paul Noonan says of the inspiration for the tune. “The song began as a debauched HR Giger vision of the Fianna Fail tent at the Galway Races, with all the boys out of their minds, riding each other...on a Sugar High.”

FMF electro house regular Bantum – AKA the Cork-born, Dublin-based Ruairi Lynch – has a new EP, Lay Lay, which features contributions from Margie Lewis and Owensie. Quality! Off to [link]www.bantum.bandcamp.com[/link] for more.

Comeback single from the wonderful Mazzy Star, which is well worth the extremely looooooong wait. If this doesn’t melt your heart, you’re a bleedin’ Eskimo! Listen @ [link]www.soundcloud.com/weallwantsome1/mazzy-star-common-burn[/link]

Galwegian singer and composer Laura Sheeran is streaming her new nine-track Murderous album, which isn’t quite as “mini” as she makes out. Bjork and Julie Feeney fans will love it. See what you think @ [link]laurasheeran.bandcamp.com/album/murderous-love[/link]

Free mix from Two Door Cinema Club’s unspeakably hip French label Kitsuné @
[link]www.kitsune.fr/journal/2011/09/downloads/jerry-bouthier-paris-fashion-week-ss12-mixtape[/link]

Epic Rose Royce-referencing tune from London hip hop man Kano and his bezzie Ghetts, which soundtracked Channel 4’s Top Boy series this week. That's over @ [link]soundcloud.com/therealkano/house-of-pain-ft-ghetts[/link]

More bawdy, bluesy fun from Dubliners The Cold 100 who recorded this in their hometown’s legendary Windmill Lane studio: [link]www.soundcloud.com/thecold100/new-stories[/link]

The new Drums single gets the dubby Jeremy Summer remix treatment @ [link]rcrdlbl.com/2011/10/28/download_the_drums_how_it_ended_jeremy_summer_camp_remix_[/link]

American songstress Meshell Ndegeocello – yes, we're not 100% sure how to pronounce it either – has her new Weather album streamed in its supremely soulful entirety @ [link]www.npr.org/2011/10/30/141666180/first-listen-meshell-ndegeocello-weather[/link]

Cult film director David Lynch comes over all Tom Waits on his This Train eleven-tracker. Needs a few spins – or streams! – to get your head round but worth the effort. Go to [link]www.npr.org/2011/10/30/141598329/first-listen-david-lynch-crazy-clown-time[/link]

We’re indebted once again to America’s National Public Radio for this preview of the American folkie Laura Veirs' enchanting kids’ album. Sounds pretty good if you're an adult too...[link]www.npr.org/2011/10/30/141599989/first-listen-laura-veirs-tumble-bee[/link]

Crystal Stilts and Girls Names star on this State of the Hipster Nation sampler. Which reminds us – we seriously have to update our haircuts: [link]www.stereogum.com/861971/stereogums-monthly-mix-october-2011/mp3s[/link]

Ellie Goulding, Pet Shop Boys and Weezer are among those having their evil way with Chris Martin & Co. @ [link]www.stereogum.com/858202/download-the-10-best-coldplay-covers/franchises/listomania[/link]

If you can’t wait until November 17’s official launch in Whelan’s, fear not, you can check out The Young Folks’ eponymous folk-with-a-twist EP now online @ [link]www.theyoungfolk.com/ep.html[/link]

Four live tunes from The Disconnected Bliss’ recent visit to Dolan’s, Limerick for the southwest Guinness Play On The Day regional final. You can’t accuse the Westmeath trio of not giving it socks! [link]www.soundcloud.com/thedisconnectedbliss/sets/live-from-limerick[/link]

Loads of streamable goodies including The Beach Boys’ “lost” but now found Smile album. Before Brian Wilson gets in touch – yes, Bri, it’s every bit as swooonsome as Sgt. Peppers! [link]www.music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/spinner#/3[/link]

FMF debutantes The Hard Ground are from Cork and dab hands at making deliciously breathy pop. We like! [link]www.soundcloud.com/thehardground[/link]

Austin, Texas’ Boy Friend – there are two of them, both female – give ABBA’s disco classic a dream pop makeover @ [link]www.soundcloud.com/christapalazzolo/gimme-gimme-gimme-abba-cover[/link]

Tinchy Stryder treats fans to the Musical Youth-sampling ‘Generation’. Now, where’s our copy of ‘Pass The Dutchie’? [link]www.soundcloud.com/takeover/tinchy-stryder-generation[/link]

Nifty free download from M83 supporting Welsh electro personages Man Without Country. 'Inflammable Heart' in particular is an absolute belter! [link]www.manwithoutcountry.com[/link]

Lissie covers Gaga and Metallica on her Covered Up With Flowers EP.
[link]www.soundcloud.com/brycool/bad-romance-lady-gaga-cover-lissie[/link] and [link]www.soundcloud.com/mixessss13/lissie-nothing-else-matters-metallica-cover[/link]

Warchest, Inner Sanctvm, Obscene Sphere and Sacred Oath are among those turning it up to not just '11' but '12' on this continent-straddling heavy metal sampler. Go to [link]www.music.digmetalworld.com/album/the-hell-road[/link] and hold on to your eardrums.

And that, dear Free Music Friday friends, is where we must leave you for another week. Don’t forget to send all your links to @stuartclark66