EOIN BUTLER's guide to downloads, singles and free audiostreams

GOOD MUSIC

Mercy GOOD Music ***

The lead single from the Good Music’s Cruel Summer compilation album features label artists Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz and Toddla T. Okay, so Toddla T is a completely unrelated rapper whose track I hadn’t space to include this week. But for some reason, I find his name endlessly amusing. Think about it, his posse could be called Tha Soothaz. (Toddla T and Tha Soothaz? Anyone? No?)

ALUNAGEORGE

Just a Touch Tri-Angle ***

Aluna Francis’s soulful vocals and George Reid’s wobbly synths combine effortlessly on this, the catchiest track from their much hyped You Know You Want It EP . . . wait, wait. Sorry, I’m still stuck on Toddla T Tha Soothaz. What if their multi-platinum debut album was called Watch The Potty? (Okay, okay, I’ll stop now.)

GINNELS

It's Not a Summer (Without You) Popical Island ****

Ginnels are an itinerant Dublin supergroup, whose ranks include members of Grand Pocket Orchestra, No Monster Club and Squarehead. This track’s accompanying video, by Mark Chester and Bobby Aherne, features the kind of soft focus and saturated colouring that wouldn’t look out of place on an early 1990s episode of No Disco. They’ll take that as high praise, I suspect.

PATTI SMITH

Banga (Live on Letterman) ****

Patti Smith wore a black beanie hat on her head and a mischievous smile on her face during this rare recent live TV performance. Her lyrics, as always, are surreal. But here they're punctuated by intermittent barking from the backing band. Banga, of course, was Pontius Pilate's dog in Bulgakov's classic novel The Master and Margarita. (As if Ticket readers didn't already know that.) The legendary high priestess of punk will be appearing at the Electric Picnic later this year. youtube.com