Placidrecordings is a new collective and label based in Killarney, Co. Kerry featuring the work of Junior Coffey, Idlemind and Auto. The label has existed since Autumn 2002 and has already launched its first album entitled Night Tourist featuring work from all three Placidrecording artists. Visit www.placidrecordings.com for details of this exciting new venture and adventure in sound. Night Tourist is also available from Road Records in Dublin, Plugd, Synthetic and the Vinyl Room in Cork, Empire and Black Spot Records, Limerick and Roxy Records in Killarney and Tralee.

After a strong show in this year’s Reader’s Poll, Autamata, aka Ken McHugh, will be generously dishing out free copies of a free 4-track, ‘Jive County’, to the first 50 people in the door on the night of their Music Centre gig in Dublin next week with Kevin May. Meanwhile, Road Relish release number 12 will be christened by The Chalets and Neosupervital on February 26 in Whelan’s and will be available exclusively on white vinyl.
Stanley Super 800 release their debut ‘Moonlight EP’ today, February 14. The band is the brainchild of Stan O’Sullivan, formerly of Cork’s The Shanks. Stanley Super 800 take to the road for dates with Hyper Borea and Gerry Fish & The Mudbug Club. The EP is the inaugural release for Lamp Recordings. Mark Geary has also chosen the feast of St. Lurve to release his debut album on Independent.

Speaking of lamps, Andrew Lyster is working on a new project under The Lamps name before getting back to business as The Asteroids. Scientific Laboratories will launch a new electronica imprint called Scientific Research. The first release on the label will be a 10” from Decal in April/May. Meanwhile, Scilabs will be kept busy with a split 7” with The Dudley Corporation and The Tycho Brahe and Japanese band Boris. The second Corpo album will be recorded in May again with Andy Miller in Chem19 in Scotland.

The 66 Electric have just launched their debut EP ‘I Died in a Movie’ on Underfoot Records. Not to be confused with Detroit pranksters Electric Six, they boast Irish, Scottish and Australian members. Forthcoming attractions at the wonderful Ballroom Of Romance shindig include Derrick Devine, the Last Sound, Formika, The Blue Ghost, Papercop, El Diablo and Michael Knight. Finally, Guerrilla Artfare will feature artists who are involved in the sphere of music and visual art, namely Naomi Ryder, DJ Boz of The Steam Pig, Sarah Sheil of Estel and David Heddermen of The Immediate Camerawoman. Each artist will create a backdrop to be displayed during live performances with their respective bands. Look out for details of the launch night and subsequent exhibition. As they say, forget partying, let’s art!