Kevin Courtney's guide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams
SINÉAD O'CONNOR AND REPUBLIC OF LOOSE We People (Who Are Darker than Blue) ****
Sinéad leaves Trenchtown for a while and heads to the ghettos of Chicago in the 1970s, joining forces with the dirty Dublin funkateers for this anti-racism song written by Curtis Mayfield.
With the Discovery Gospel Choir in tow, the result is one serious, ass-kicking jam.
They'll be performing it at tonight's Meteor Music Awards, but it's already available to download on iTunes.
PAUL HOURICANE One Step Forward Hurricane Records ***
His surname sounds like a hurricane, but the singer- songwriter from Malahide, Co Dublin brews up a quiet musical storm, somewhere between Declan O'Rourke and David Kitt.
To celebrate Houricane's upcoming debut album, Let the Enemy In, here's his first-ever single, getting a proper release at last; love that line, "My heart isn't crushed, it's cracked".
DAVID GERAGHTY Ragdoll Decal ****
Is there a Meteor award for best band side-projects? If there was, Bell X1 would surely sweep it.
Besides The Cake Sale and Neosupervital, there's guitarist Geraghty and his fab new album, Kill Your Darlings.
This evokes the spirits of John Martyn and Paul Brady in their prime, and the double bass of Dave Redmond and the violins of Cora Venus Lunny make for a mesmerising accompaniment.
DECLAN O'ROURKE Whatever Else Happens N4 Records ***
In a good week for homegrown singer songwriters, the Galileo man emerges from his life observatory with new songs about life, love, the moon and the stars.
This charming love tune from O'Rourke's Big, Bad Beautiful Worldalbum might be a day late for Valentine's Day, but I'm sure you could still arrange a romantic dinner over the weekend.
FUTURE KINGS OF SPAIN This Is the End What's the Kim? ***
From the fab Nervoussystemalbum, the expanded FKOS rock like MFs on this guitar-crushing ode to finality.
They're up for three Meteor awards tonight - let's hope they kick the stools out from under those Westlife muppets.
