In case you hadn't noticed, DiS has been on holiday for a few weeks. Well, now we're back and raring to go... at least, we would be if we didn't have the sodding 'flu. Anyway, here's our pick of the music news (and some sad goodbyes) from our time away.

4AD

The venerable indie label have made a compilation of some of their best stuff from last year available for free. What else do you need to know? That it features tracks from TV On The Radio, Deerhunter, Atlas Sound, Department Of Eagles and Bon Iver, and you can download it here? Okay then.

Conor Oberst

Interested in Conor Oberst, and releases on his Team Love imprint? You'll probably be excited to learn the label have opened their own virtual library, then, where a rotating selection of their releases will be available to download for free every month - expect some surprises, too, in the shape of unreleased material. Head over to the Team Love website for more information and to register.

Friendly Fires

DiS' favourite shoe-rave popsters have been nominated for the Times-sponsored South Bank Breakthrough Award, competing against various other bright young things from the literary, film and television worlds. If you'd like to give them a helping hand, you can do so by clicking here. Voting closes on January 14th, and the ceremony will be broadcast on January 28th on ITV.

Jay-Z/Radiohead

Like Jay-Z? Like Radiohead? Like mash-ups? Well, if you can answer 'yes' to at least one of those questions, you might like to check out the work of Minty Fresh Beats. Innovatively titled Jaydiohead, it's - sure enough - the result of splicing together the NYC rapper's beats and flow with the ouevre of Oxford's finest. Head over to jaydiohead.com if this sounds like your bag.

Kraftwerk

Co-founder Florian Schneider has left the band after 40 years, leaving just one original member, Ralf Hütter. No reason has been given, although solo ambitions have been suggested. Kraftwerk are still due to support Radiohead on their forthcoming South American tour.

Phoenix

Populist French rockers Phoenix - dearly beloved of DiS Editor Sean Adams - are back with a new record. The quartet have announced their recently completed fourth LP Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is due for a Spring release.

Prince

He always has to go one - or in this case, two - better, doesn't he? Prince has told the LA Times he's going to be putting out three albums this year under his own steam. One's reportedly a Pro Tools vehicle (MPLSOUND), the second a heavier, guitar based solo LP (Lotus Flower) and the third a collaborative effort with singer Bria Valente and Morris Hayes (Elixir). But will any of them actually be, like, any good?

Sigur Ros

Singer Jónsi Birgisson's boyfriend has let slip to fanblog ILoveMakonnen details of a musical collaboration between the two - apparently due for completion in March. Alex Somers, of fellow Icelandic outfit Parachutes, has of course worked with Birgisson before - the pair released a picture book, Riceboy Sleeps, in 2006.

The Music Industry

The burning question: are we in as much trouble as people keep suggesting? Let's see the figures... physical album sales went down 20% in 2008, but digital purchases rose by 32% last year. Overall? A 15% downturn. Coolfer.com has published lots more end-of-year stats, plus some pretty graphs and charts, somewhere around here. But! It's not all doom and gloom: Rough Trade report a 7% year-on-year increase for the quarter ending November 30th - e.g. credit crunch time - which has to be good news.

The really smart money, though, is in music technology - stuff like digital distribution, streaming sites, that kinda thing - where a whopping $800 million was invested last year. IndieMusicTech.com has more.

Obituaries

Ron Asheton (July 17th, 1948 - January 6th, 2009) American guitarist and member of The Stooges. Co-wrote and played guitar on their albums The Stooges (1969) and Fun House (1970) before switching to bass for 1973's Raw Power. Died of a heart attack.

Vincent Ford (c. 1940 – December 28th, 2008) Jamaican songwriter originally credited for penning famous Bob Marley & The Wailers track 'No Woman, No Cry' - although this was later disputed.

Freddie Hubbard (April 7th 1938 – December 29th, 2008) American jazz/bebop trumpeter who recorded extensively for legendary jazz label Blue Note Records. Died of complications from an earlier heart attack.

Eartha Kitt (January 17th, 1927 - December 25th, 2008) American singer/actress most famous for her 1953 Christmas song 'Santa Baby', and her role as Catwoman in the 60s Batman TV series. Died of colon cancer.

Sam Taylor (October 25th, 1934 – January 5th, 2009) American blues guitarist best known for his work with Big Joe Turner, The Isley Brothers, Tracy Nelson, Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. Cause of death: heart disease.