The album was shown as purchased in the iTunes Store app but there was no way to download the files, i.e., to have the album in my own library instead of just the ability to stream it via the iTunes Store.
A well-known BitTorrent search engine let me solve the issue.
Really, having a free download in the iTunes page would be actually simpler for me. I've read in the news, was curious, tried over iTunes, I can't download. Surfing, seeing "it's complicated," gave up. U2 weren't interesting enough for me to actually make an effort.
I actually got up to "show all purchases" and immediately hated that I have to actually do this as the things I bought and discovered it was not what was advertised were visible again, just reminding me of something I'd rather forget. I wish there were just a simple possibility to "permanently delete the information that I've purchased particular tracks."
Then the special "U2 removal tool" weren't necessary too.
It'll show up in your Purchases list in the iTunes Store though. You can download it from there. At least I'm pretty sure that's how I got it. IIRC clicking the "Purchased" button actually took you there.
I turned on the 'purchased in iCloud' content to my library, found the tracks, and clicked the 'download from cloud' button that shows up next to them.
My first reaction to all this was "Cool, I'll give it a try". I found it in the iTunes store and it said 'Purchased' and... I couldn't download it. I waited 2 days before trying again to figure out how to do it.
The album was shown as purchased in the iTunes Store app but there was no way to download the files, i.e., to have the album in my own library instead of just the ability to stream it via the iTunes Store.
A well-known BitTorrent search engine let me solve the issue.