Beats + pieces

Dublin electronica outfit Ambulance release an album this month on occasional Aphex Twin and Björk collaborator Mike Paradinas’ Planet Mu label. Ambulance, known to their mates as Dunk and Trev, began working together in 1997, soon coming to the attention of Decal’s Alan O’ Boyle, who released their first 12” on his u:mack records stamp in 2000, which quickly became one of the label’s best selling releases. 2001 saw Ambulance’s first release on Planet Mu Records: a 7” including a reconstruction of BellX1’s ‘Snakes’. With their tunes played by the likes of Plaid, John Peel and Ian O’Brien, Ambulance’s beautifully complicated music goes from strength to strength on The Curse Of Vale Do Lobo, a beautiful opus of electronic madness and melody. Rumour has it that it’s the first of two Ambulance offerings on Planet Mu, as they submitted Paradinas with enough material to fill a second opus. Watch this space. Meanwhile, the album is launched this Saturday (19) at Whelan’s. Donal Dineen will be supplying the visuals… Belfast based d’n’b outfit Spree’s third single ‘I Want You’ is released on Direct Recordings this fortnight. A lively old skool affair that’s become a favourite at live Spree shows, the flip is a Cappo Regime remix of ‘Believe’… Jay Pidgeon & Raff’s ‘Doberman’ single has boosted its earnings somewhat by being included on the new Lisa Lashes mix album Extreme Euphoria 3, out now on Telstar… On a personal note, the next Mark Kavanagh single ‘Charlatan’ has been picked up by Paul Glazby’s Vicious Circle label for a UK release. The remix comes from Justin Bourne, Alan Pullen and Raff…

Kraftwerk are back with a new album, Tour De France 03, which features the single of the same name, a reworking of its 1983 predecessor and several brand new compositions… The Chemical Brothers have announced full details of their singles and rarities album and DVD due for simultaneous release on September 22. The double CD package will consist of singles released from the hugely successful albums Exit Planet Dust, Dig Your Own Hole, Surrender and Come With Us and various EPs from the past decade. Two new tracks will be included on the collection, a collaboration with The Flaming Lips called ‘The Golden Path’ (which is released as a single on September 8) and a track with Canadian rapper K-OS called ‘Get Yourself High’. A second disc will accompany the collection for a limited period, consisting of rare tracks and previously unreleased material. The DVD will consist of The Chemical Brothers’ videos, made by renowned directors such as Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, WIZ and Dom & Nic, along with live and rare unreleased footage. Tom and Ed are currently in the studio working on a brand new album, which is due early in 2004…

There are three arenas confirmed so far for this year’s Planet Love festival, which runs from 2pm until 2am on September 13 at Shane’s Castle in County Antrim, with a capacity of ten thousand. The arenas are Love Main Arena (hard dance and trance), Love Allstars (house and techno) and Rendezvous (classics and old skool), while DJs booked at this point include Eddie Halliwell, Dave Angel, Judge Jules, Jamie Anderson, Lisa Lashes, Benny Benassi, Scott Mac, Charly Lownoise, Woody van Eyden, Anne Savage, Pablo Gargano, Sharkey, Hixxy, Hemstock & Jennings, Slipmatt, Trix and Vertigo. Tickets are priced €50 (including booking fee), and for the first time buses will be running from all over Ireland. Co-promoter Eddie Wray promises: “We’ll be building on the festival experience aspect particularly this year. There will be special chill-out areas, fire-eaters, Café Mambo-style bongo players, masseurs, and other additions to make the overall festival experience a very pleasurable one. It will be very unique.”…

Alan O’ Boyle continues on the promotional trail for his awesome Decal album Brightest Star with a show this Saturday at GPO in Galway. The Bassbin boys will be keeping him company… Thompson’s Garage in Belfast re-opens after an expensive “warehouse style” refit on Wednesday July 23… Mister Spring, Pressure and John Power have just launched a new Saturday night club Noiz at The Crypt at Temple Theatre… Strictly Fish launches a fortnightly corporate clubbing venture for alcopops lovers everywhere on July 24 at Ri-Ra. WKD Most Wanted’s first guest is Patrick Forge… There’s life in South yet. Niall Power’s Electric Circus techno club has taken up residency in South’s Playpen every Saturday… Sin is open seven nights a week on Sycamore Street in Dublin. Conor G, Paddy Sheridan and Jenny Greene are among the residents…

The August Bank Holiday is already shaping up to be one of the busiest of the year in clubland. On Sunday August 3, Deep Dish launch their new Global Underground album at Redbox, John Power plays Mono in Letterkenny, Detroit legend Kevin Saunderson plays Sir Henry’s, Scot Project and JFK play Enigma, and Layo & Bushwacka play The Savoy… And finally, the latest Coastal Beats mini-festival runs in various clubs in Tralee this weekend. See listings for full details… THE BEAT GOES ON!