Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Messages: Greatest Hits (Virgin)

Between them Andy McClusky and Paul Humphries have been responsible for creating two brilliant, but very different, bands. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, the early 80s Factory descendents who sampled blast furnaces and the Stanlow oil refinery. And OMD, the late 80s stadium pop act who defied all expectation by updating their sound and becoming – if only briefly – a relevant force in the 90s. It’s sometimes difficult to reconcile the fact that the two came from the same people, and consequently difficult to package the two together in one Best Of. Which is possibly why Virgin keeps trying over and over again.

This is their third major compilation release, with only minor tweaks in track listing from 1998’s The OMD Singles. But in the ten years since then the band have taken hold of their heritage and begun to repackage it and reperform it to renewed critical acclaim. And the main reason to buy this one is the bonus DVD, which contains 30 promo videos (11 of which are available for the first time) and one Top Of The Pops performance (for Joan of Arc).

The early and later videos remain stylish and, while OMD’s videos from the mid-80s (cod love stories that make Brookside look glamorous) have been derided for a long time, here in context they’re like classic retro museum pieces, the colour, comedy part of a fascinating, diverse legacy.

Various Asrtists – Just Stand Up! (iTunes)

Following the hour-long US TV show Stand Up to Cancer, comes this download-only single in support of the new charity. Featuring a veritable roll-call of divadom, it’s produced by a reunited LA and Babyface and comes with a digital booklet. Well worth the download, if only to hear Beyonce facing off against Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Ashanti, LeAnn Rimes and Natasha Bedingfield.

Little Boots – Magical Tropical Mixtape (MySpace)

Little Boots is a big anomaly. A Blackpool based kid of 90s, one minute she’s at the piano sounding like Kate Bush’s celestial daughter, the next she’s banging on a Tenori-on (techno keyboard/drum machine hybrid) and rattling off covers of Haddaway and Wiley, making them sound like genre classics, which – perhaps – they always were. Her new single Meddle is out on coloured 7” vinyl and, if you’re prepared to part with just your email address to join her mailing list, she’s put together this free 43-minute mixtape which will give you a pretty accurate feel for where she’s coming from. Or, for instant intrigue, check the videos and weekly cooky cover versions at youtube.com/user/littlebootsvideos.

Mercury Rev – Snowflake in a Hot World (Spin.com)

This thick, electro-tinged spaced out song is a taster for a fresher, more techno album from Mercury Rev (September 30’s Snowflake Midnight). It’s available for free full-length download from US magazine SPIN’s website (at www.spin.com/articles/exclusive-mp3-mercury-rev-snowflake-hot-world) which also recently played host to an exclusive stream of Noise Epic by The Verve.

Feeder – NapsterLive Session (Napster)

Feeder are the latest band to record an exclusive live acoustic session for iTunes rival Napster. There are four tracks in total and – one great scoop Napster has over iTunes – you can preview each and every one in full (as opposed to iTunes’ short preview) before you buy. Here they run through three tracks from new album Silent Cry before cutting loose on the essential download – a cover of the Johnny Cash favourite, Hurt.

Andrew Poppy - live at the Chelsea Theatre

I went to see Andrew Poppy live for the first time last night. A gig I've been waiting 20 years to see! Having followed his work since the ZTT era - the now 20-odd year old Beating of Wings - across work with choirs, orchestras, electronics and small ensembles, I really wasn't sure what to expect.

Actually this wasn't quite the first time I'd seen Mr Poppy live. I attended an unexpectedly moving concert by the BBC Concert Orchestra in 2006. Maximinimalists II, where they played 32 Frames for Orchestra alongside Gavin Bryars Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet and Howard Skempton's Lento. Poppy took a bow at the end. It was high-impact minimalism and quite an unforgettable night.

But back to last night. I'd previously reviewed his new album - ...and the Shuffle of Things - as like a 'Best Of', because it pulls together all those areas - the electronics, the ambience, the minimalism, the orchestricks - with such ease. And the concert version, as it turned out, added a coherence as he played through the album in its entirety, narrating, improvising and plugging things in, while all the while obscured behind a cinema-size opaque screen onto which extracts, lyrics, texts and images where projected.

I once wrote that Andrew Poppy's music was like film soundtrack that didn't need films, such is the imagination, and at times graphic intensity. Played out live, this kept the entire (sold out) audience on their toes, enthralled and - between tracks - in hushed anticipation. I can't wait until next time... which will hopefully come quicker than 20 years...

Ultravox – Vienna (EMI) and Rage in Eden (EMI)

Ultravox enjoyed what’s since become known as the ‘Beautiful South effect’ in the latter stages of the eighties. In other words, some major singles, some far less major singles, and some patchy album sales all given a massive boost at both the cash till and the credibility stakes by a well put together Best Of. It’s Ultravox’s Best Of, The Collection, that’s always been the cornerstone of their back catalogue but hopefully that will change with the start of a major reissue campaign in which EMI is taking their original Chrysalis albums and adding very impressive bonus discs.

Yes, Vienna has that song but it also has the great single All Stood Still and, on Disc Two, all of the B-sides and vinyl-only bonus tracks from the era and two tracks being heard for the first time: All Stood Still and Sleepwalk both recorded at concert rehearsals.

With no Vienna, Rage in Eden was always destined to be the overlooked classic. And behind the powerful, original sleeve (reinstated after a lengthy legal dispute) is an album ripe for reconsideration. And its bonus disc has a whole stack of treats including six tracks recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon on 17 October 1981 and two previously unreleased “Work In Progress” mixes of Thin Wall and Stranger Within.

David Guetta – Jack Is Back (Beatport.net)

According to the man himself, this track has a “real old school, acid house feeling… totally different from my usual stuff, but as much a reflection of my taste as my crossover productions.” It’s available for free download from the deep-end dance MP3 store, Beatport. “Beatport is my favourite record store,” Guetta explains, “because it speaks to the scene where I’m coming from. Some of my records have crossed over, but this is still the scene that matters most for me. After all these fantastic years I’ve had, I thought it would be cool to make some underground tracks again – and I had the idea to give this one away to thank the clubbers for their support.”

Moon High – We Believe (rcrdlbl.com)

There’s a very strange video on YouTube of this track being performed live at The Oregon Express in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Strange, but suitably so, given the breezy 60s psyche vibe of this new, upcoming band. Check the rough and ready YouTube video or - better still - download two of their new songs for free from the superb and technically very innovative RCRD LBL website at rcrdlbl.com/2008/07/08/exclusive_download_moon_high_we_believe_where_you_go.

Amie Miriello – Coldfront (arjanwrites.com)

Amie Miriello was discovered by the same A&R team that brought the world Beyonce Knowles and Destiny's Child. She releases her debut single this month and, rather than the supersonic mainstream pop you might expect, it's something far more delicate and pleasing - a little Tori Amos here, a little alt.country there. Coldfront is a taster for her debut album, a legit MP3 downlaod (as are all releases reviewed in Download Collector) courtesy of legendary pop blog Arjan Writes, at www.arjanwrites.com/arjanwrites/2008/07/free-download-a.html.

Estelle – Magnificent (timesonline.co.uk)

American Boy – Estelle’s brilliant March number one – is certainly one of the juiciest, most addictive R&B hits of the year. For a free, additional track all you have to do is hand over your email address to The Times and you can download the more reggae-centric Magnificent, featuring Kardinal Offishall, which is available at myfreedownload.co.uk/estelletimesonline.

Dirty Pretty Things – Hippy’s Son (dirtyprettythings.trinitystreetdirect.com)

Sounding like a hardcore mash-up of The Beatles and The Jam, Hippy’s Son is a new, exclusive track from Dirty Pretty Things available only on their website. It’s free of charge too – all you have to do is sign up to their mailing list. Bargain!

Ten Kens - Your Kids Will Know (spin.com)

Leftfield Toronto quartet Ten Kens release their eponymous debut album this month on FatCat Records. Their sound schizophrenically jumps between progginess, near-metal rock and droning repetition, almost like a jumpy, Canadian Mogwai. The US' Spin magazine likens them to No Age and Liars, and you can download this track exclusively from their site at www.spin.com/articles/exclusive-new-ten-kens-mp3.

Plump DJs - Torque Of The Devil (Subs Remix) (inthemix.com.au)

Awesome, throbbing return-to-form for the sometimes loved, sometimes completely overlooked DJ duo. In the run up to their fourth album - and fifteen singles into their career - maybe it's time the Plump DJs were afforded a little of the heritage and credence that's heaped on lesser imitators. This free track is available only from the Aussie dance site In The Mix at www.inthemix.com.au/news/aust/38632/Exclusive_Plump_DJs_free_mp3_on_inthemix.

Dresden Dolls - War Pigs! (wippet.com)

When the Dresden Dolls recently toured Europe and the US they hit out against the Bush administration with a cover of Black Sabbath's War Pigs. "We figured nobody could say ‘f*** this war s***’ like Ozzy could!" says Amanda Doll. Their performance at their homecoming Boston gig was taped and is only available as a 79p download. “We’re proud to offer this download exclusively,” say wippet.com. “You can’t get this anywhere else - no high priced PC maker or soft drink company posing as music lovers has the cajones to carry this one!"

Black Lips - Moma (blogs.guardian.co.uk)

We highly recommend The Guardian's ever-expanding and constantly updated Music blog, not just for news and gossip but for the exclusive MP3s that crop up from time to time. A recent favourite was this Bo Diddly cover/tribute that the Black Lips performed at Hoboken, New Jersey, recorded straight off the soundboard and posted to the Guardian blog for all and sundry to download at will. Grab it for yourself from blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/06/black_lips_tribute_to_bo_diddl.html.