As broadsheet hacks have habitually reminded us of late, trying social times tend to inspire musicians to push their creative envelope and vocalise the dissatisfaction and disillusionment of the global populace. Barely a month and a half into 2009 and it's already evident that musicians are rising to this challenge in abundance, even in the relatively conservative confines of roots/ acoustica.

In the last couple of weeks alone FDM.com has been blown away by the likes of Jeff Zentner, Alessi's Ark, J Tillman, Brian McGee and The Temper Trap (although the latter falls more into the pigeon-hole marked "fuckin' awesome synth-pop buffonary") and still the flood of brave new artists shows no signs of abating. For now add to that list the name of Ben de la Cour, a 24 year old folk musician with the songwriting acumen of a young Nick Cave.

This week, exclusively through FDM.com, we are giving away an exclusive free Mp3 from de la Cour. Recorded on an 8-track towards the end of 2008, 'Sobriety and the Woman' is 3 minutes, 14 seconds of dark, brooding acoustica that pitches de la Cour as a raw musician with the lyrical wisdom of a vitriolic Leonard Cohen.

To download your exclusive free track click here - http://www.freshdeermeat.com/mp3s.php

Ben de la Cour official site: www.myspace.com/bendelacour
Jeff Zentner official site: www.myspace.com/jeffzentner
Alessi's Ark official site: www.myspace.com/alessisark
J Tillman official site: www.jtillmanmusic.com
Brian McGee official site: www.myspace.com/mcgeehollowspeed
The Temper Trap official site: www.thetempertrap.com