IT has long been the case that this country has produced a variety of acts running the full range of the musical spectrum that have gone on to enjoy heady levels of international success - the glaring exception being the lack of any big name electro/ techno/dance outfit. For all the clubs, all the DJs, all the latest in drum n'bass, garage, trip hop (or whatever) happening around the towns and the cities, no single figure has yet to emerge to put contemporary Irish dance on the international map.
It's all the more curious when you consider that dance and its myriad offshoots is the dominant means of musical expression in these post rock days. With U2 coming over all groovy and breakbeat on their latest work, and bands like The Chemkal, Brothers, Prodigy and Underworld all crossing over into the guitar world, it's more surprising still. Given the advanced state of today's technology and the simple, proven fact that you can now record a number one record in your bedroom, it does seem that the sole possession of a decent sequencer would hasten the journey to musical stardom over and above any amount of plodding guitar, bass and drums outfits.
The 18 year old Clondalkin techno child Colin Cloughley, who records under the name of Anodyne, is doing something, adventurous and worthwhile about this pitiful state of affairs. His debut release, a self styled collection of "breakbeat science and lofi techno wizardry" called Ultramack 005, was recorded in a mere five days and engineered by the talented Decal team. With self confessed nods to the likes of The Aphex Twin, it's an interesting release - although claiming to be a "landmark release for Irish, electronic music that should be filed alongside the innovations of bands like The Virgin Prunes, The Radiators From Space and My Bloody Valentine" won't do anybody any favours.
Still, hats off for producing an Irish electro album of real worth. Give it a go, pop kidz you might like it.
THE Heineken (more beer please) Green Energy Festival is all I but wrapped up and ready to go. Taking place over the May bank holiday weekend - and clashing with our wonderful Eurovision Song Contest - the citadels of Dublin Castle will be stormed over the appropriate days with some pretty impressive open air gigs. On May 2nd, The Divine Comedy supported by Babybird (which seems a curious billing, but don't mind me) will be doing his stuff, followed by Beck the next day. Apart from the delights of Beck, who'll be doing most of his fabbo Odelay album, the support here comes from John Squire's new band (who never got their Irish drummer) called The Seahorses. Suede headline on the Sunday night with Counting Crows (plus guests) on Monday night. Tickets are moving quickly on all these gigs, so don't say you weren't warned. Elsewhere around the city, Type O Negative will be denting the brickwork of the SFX on May 4th, while Beth Orton will be strumming happily away on her guitar in Whelans on May 3rd and Texas (the most unlikely and, let's face it' unworthy number one act of the year) will be in the Red Box on the 2nd. There'll also be tons and tons of well known European acts (watch out for French act Renaud, in particular) as well as seminars, workshops and all of that sort of thing.
STILL waiting for Sack to release their truly excellent Laughter Lines single, the fact that they have a new album out in June (produced by yer man who does all Stereolab's stuff) might persuade them to release it in May. You can hear all their new stuff when they play The Da Club tomorrow night (10.30 p.m.) ... There's only about five tickets left for the exceedingly popular Cast at the Red Box on April 7th ... Bawl have made the odd decision of making their new single a mail order only affair. The four track EP is available if you send £1.99 plus £1 p&p to Bawl, Freepost Lon7571, PO Box 4693, London SE5 6BP and the first 250 people to buy it will also receive a special Bawl mini-film, a 12 minute affair called My Stigmata Hurts. Bawl come back to play Whelan's on March 30th, and try and get there on time because The Marbles are supporting ... The superb Norma Waterson (Mercury Music Prize and all of that) has just confirmed two Irish dates; she and Martin Carthy and Eliza Carthy will be in Whelans, Dublin on April 15th and Roisin Dubh, Galway on April 16th. Highly recommended.
