Kevin Courtney's guide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams
HEADGEAR Harry Truman ****
A song not about a US president, but an 83-year-old chap who refused to come down from his home in the shadow of an erupting volcano. Limerickman Daragh Dukes has mined a mountain of inspiration in his second album, Flight Cases. Hear the track and read all about Harry at www.marthadigs.com.
ASLAN Jealous Little Thing EMI ***
Aslan celebrate 25 years together (give or take the odd break-up) with a new album, For Some Strange Reason. They may not rival U2 in the international stakes, but at home Christy Dignam and the boys still rule. After a quarter of a century, the lads can knock off a well-rounded tune, and this one should keep fans punching the air.
THE KING BLUES Mr Music Man Field Recordings ***
"Dem no wanna play ska - dem a-wanna play emo." Here's a London crew on a crusade to cheer up the emo kids with some rastaman vibrations using two acoustic guitars, an upright bass and a ukulele. Download a free demo on www.thekingblues.com.
ROBIN THICKE I Wanna Love You Girl feat Pharrell Interscope *
"She's the kind of girl you want to marry." Robin plainly thinks women are thick enough to fall for a cheesy line like that with this squelchy r'n'b tune; kinda makes you nostalgic for nasty, misogynistic gangsta rappers.
BUMBLEBEEZ Dr Love Modular ****
The Aussie indie-hoppers are back and ready to ride the electro-disco rollercoaster. If Happy Mondays had jammed with Tom Tom Club in the Bahamas instead of doing crack cocaine, it might have sounded like this.
THE HIVES Tick Tick Boom Polydor ***
The Swede strutters used to be the bomb, but lately they've gone off like a damp squib. They need to come back with a bang, so here's an explosive tune that wastes no time on a countdown.
CHRIS SINGLETON Worry No 1/You Carry On www.singletonmusic.com/free ****
Remember how "home taping is killing music"? Turned out it was the Internet that did it, in the parlour, with a lead pipe. Shortly after releasing a double A-sided single, the Dubliner is bringing us a virtual tape containing two even better tracks. After you've down- loaded the songs, pass the virtual tape to your friends - with no guilt.
