Soundbites: Jason Molina, Depeche Mode, Villagers, ASIWYFA and more

Depeche Mode's 13th album Delta Machine is available to stream online via iTunes on their official website. Delta Machine will get a full release on March 22nd and the stream will be available until then.

I was very sorry to hear about the passing over the weekend of Jason Molina, better known by his musical moniker Songs:Ohia. I remember seeing Jason (pictured above) support The Frames in Whelan's on February 11th 2000 and was struck by the powerful majesty of his voice. Molina passed away at the age of 39 after struggling with alcoholism for many years.

I lost a true friend today, it hurts, but it is, Jason Molina gave me so much. Hope, a song, protection spells. He put The Frames on course.

— Glen Hansard (@Glen_Hansard) March 19, 2013

Villagers will play The Olympia in Dublin this Thursday and Friday in support of their outstanding second album {Awayland}.

The full line-up to the Meteor Camden Crawl will be unveiled this Friday. We're delighted to be programming a stage again this year, can't wait to let you all know what we have in store.

Beth Orton will play the Roisin Dubh on Thursday. Grab yizzer tickets here.

And So I Watch You From Afar's third album All Hail Bright Futures is released today, so make sure to pick up a copy of what is already one of the best Irish albums of the year. Speaking of the lads, they'll be on stage in Cyrpus Avenue on Sunday night and you can get tix here.

Hugh Laurie's will dabble in the world of music once again when he releases his second album Didn't It Rain on May 6th. If his first album was rooted in a 'New Orleans sound', Didn't It Rain is, according to Laurie, his love-letter to music from the American heartland. "I have resolved to forge on, deeper into the forest of American music that enchanted me since I was a young boy", he said.