Glow sticks and clubbing with Le Galaxie

Dublin group Le Galaxie didn't so much launch as rocket-launch their latest EP, Fade 2 Forever, at the Button Factory on Saturday night.

Bounding on-stage and showering the crowd with hundreds and hundreds of glow sticks, the gallically grammatically incorrect Le Galaxie were clear they meant business, pounding the crowd with their unique blend of synthesized electro poppy rocky techno trance.

The Dublin group's impressive new material in many cases pays direct tribute to the likes of French electro pioneer Jean Michel Jarre and other Euro-dance influences.

Le Galaxie made the '80s cool again on Saturday, putting on a retro nostalgic light-show full of big hair and high waisted trousers, throwing in some trance beats from the '90s, a lick of Groove Armada and three guitars to create the kind of modern sound that simultaneously makes one nostalgic for times gone by and hopeful for a world where synths (and fluorescent guitar straps) are cool again.

A forest of glow sticks punctuated energetic renditions of new gems such as 'Heat City' and 'Heart 2 Heart' alongside older material, while Elaine Mai and Laura Smyth joined the group on stage for live renditions of 'Love System' and 'The Nightcaller'.

Even a technical glitch which brought the gig to a complete halt for a few minutes towards the end of the night didn't detract from the positive energy permeating the Button Factory.

And as Le Galaxie closed their show with a surprise rendition of N-Trance's club classic 'Set You Free' with Laura Smyth on lead vocals, it looked like the music world may just be on the cusp of a long-awaited new wave of old-school dancing, clubbing and general good feelings.

Check out and purchase Fade 2 Forever, which also comes on a funky 10'' white vinyl.