Eoin Butler's guide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams

THE SWELL SEASON
In These Arms ANTI- ***

“Maybe I was born to hold you in these arms . . .” Oscar winner Glen Hansard (God, it never stops being weird to say that, does it?) rejoins Markéta Irglová for this sweet but ultimately underwhelming love song from the pair’s forthcoming Strict Joy album, which is in shops on October 27th.

BANANARAMA
Love Comes Fascination Records ***

It came as news to Shuffle that Bananarama, once a trio, are now operating as a duo. That this has actually been the case since 1991 (when Jacquie O’Sullivan departed the fold) suggests that the band have not managed to maintain the highest of profiles in the intervening two decades. Having sidestepped the recent Eighties revival, they here return with their first major label release in 16 years.

U2
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight Interscope **

As featured on the current Blackberry ad campaign. It gives this confirmed U2 detractor little pleasure to report that the third single from their No Line on the Horizon is, to these ears at least, quite possibly the band’s most lacklustre offering to date. Unless of course, that is, that one counts the execrable Ballad of Ronnie Drew.

DANIEL JOHNSTON
Lennon Song Feraltone ****

“I idolised you / You were my hero / And everything I know, I learned from you . . .” Texas songwriter and artist Daniel Johnston pays tribute to the former Beatles frontman with his now familiar blend of high-pitched, fragile vocals and idiosyncratic time changes, on this previously unreleased track from the repackaged Welcome to My World collection, which goes on sale today.

FLO RIDA ft. NELLY FURTADO
Jump Atlantic **

When I say jump, you say how high... The R.O.O.T.S. rapper is really taking strip-club hip-hop to insipid new lows . . .