EOIN BUTLER's guide to downloads, singles and free audiostreams
tUnE-yArDs, ?UESTLOVE, ANGELIQUE KIDJO + AKUA NARU
Lady Knitting
Factory Records ****
It’s rare for a cover version, let alone a one-off charity collaboration, to succeed in capturing the spirit of a classic original. But this rendition of Fela Kuti’s ode to the market women of Lagos arguably does just that. The Afrobeat godfather, who died of an Aids-related illness in 1997, is the subject of the RED (Hot) + Fela tribute album, out later this summer. (Of course, Akua Naru’s hip-hop interlude belongs in the bin. But that’s a minor quibble.)
THE BUACHAILL BOYS
Come on Ireland **
The seventh circle of your writer's Euro 2012 fan anthem hell is this crappy bad song tune from The Buachaill Boys. The tautologically monikered pranksters have customised Dexys' Come on Eileen to incorporate references to Johns Aldridge, O'Shea and Delaney. From a musical standpoint, at least, this tournament cannot end quickly enough. youtube.com
KANYE WEST JAY-Z
No Church in the Wild Roc-a-Fella ****
Fresh from its appearance in the trailor for Baz Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby, the opening track from the rappers’ Watch the Throne gets a belated single release. The video features a full-blown riot taking place. Oh Kanye, who have you annoyed now?
URBAN CONE
Kings and Queens Universal ***
The latest offering from the Swedish electro pop champs promises that some day we’ll all be kings and queens. Great. Just imagine how many water pageants they’ll have to throw in our honour.
LANA DEL REY
Body Electric (Live at the El Rey Theatre) ***
“Elvis is my daddy, Marilyn’s my mother/Jesus is my bestest friend.” This brand new, not-off-the-album track debuted in LA at the weekend. It’s hard to think of any artist who has descended into self-parody quite as swiftly as Lana Del Rey.
