EOIN BUTLER'S guide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams
DOVES
Kingdom of Rust EMI ***
What with Elbow’s recent success, Doves’ return could not be better timed: bloke-ish, Northern purveyors of pedestrian rock have never been more in vogue. The video isn’t afraid to pile on the clichés: redbrick housing, jumpers for goalposts, lonely moorlands, disused factories and even a chip van, for God’s sake! It finishes on a windswept beach; presumably Jack Duckworth’s pigeon loft was unavailable.
DEPECHE MODE
Wrong Mute ***
There’s a bit of a driving theme developing this week. First we have Dave Gahan reversing at high speed through the streets of New York city (an infringement of traffic regulations underscored by his emphatic cries of “WRONG!” at ten second intervals) . . .
BAT FOR LASHES
Daniel Parlophone ****
. . . Next, Natasha Khan flees some creepy evil spirits in a Volvo Estate. Not a violation of the rules of the road per se, but an entire gas-guzzling Volvo Estate for one waifish, ethereal pop princess could be deemed a tad excessive in these environmentally conscious times.
ALPHASTATES
Champagne Glass ***
The Dublin band are back with a new album, Human Nature, and are currently in the middle of a nationwide tour. www.myspace. com/alphastates
FRANKMUSIK
Better Off as Two Island ***
Twenty-three-year-old Vincent Frank has been hailed for his “high energy robopop”. Which perhaps explains why he appears to be working on an updated version of Peter Crouch’s famous robot dance. Stick at it, mate – it’ll come off sooner or later.
NICK CARSWELL & THE ELECTIVE ORCHESTRA
When I'm Not Around Silly Goose Records ***
There’s a moment, about two- and-three-quarter minutes in, when this single ceases to sound like a run-of-the-mill indie effort and starts to sound like something on the scale of a Fountains of Wayne-esque melodrama. The launch is tonight in Limerick. www.downloadmusic.ie
JACK PENATE
Tonight's Today XL ***
Tonight’s Today is the first single from Penate’s upcoming second album. A paean to hedonism, infused with exotic rhythms, it is almost certainly inspired by something totally incredible that happened to him on his gap year.
