The Inside Track: Soma like it hot

Starting with label news this issue, it’s all happening in the Trust Me I’m A Thief camp: the new album from Somadrone Of Pattern And Purpose was launched recently in The Sugar Club. The third long-player was assembled by Neil O’Connor while pursuing a PhD in Music – well done Neil! It is the first release to incorporate vocal accompaniment and you can get a copy at http://myspace.com/iamsomadrone
Labelmates Jape have signed to the UK division of International record label V2. The first recording, which looks like being an EP, should be out later in the summer. Stay tuned for news on the release of the track ‘Floating’ from The Monkeys In The Zoo Have More Fun Than Me album in the UK on a smaller Independent label. There will also be some remixes of this track coming out over the next few months.
Si Schroeder Supports Colleen In Crawdaddy Saturday June 16.
The French electronic cello musician last graced an Irish stage in the Spiegeltent and as a headliner at the Mor festival.
Belfast band The Winding Stair have been confirmed to play Glastonbury Music Festival in June 2007.On Sunday June 24 they will appear third on the bill at the Acoustic Tent.
The stage has in the past played host to Tori Amos, Portishead, Robert Plant and Marianne Faithful. This year’s lineup at the tent is headlined by none other than Damien Rice. The band also play Belfast’s GIFTED club at The Empire on Thursday June 14 .
Following the very successful launch of their debut demo EP Demonstration in April, Alanalda returned to live duties recently supporting Neosupervital in The Chasin Bull, Bundoran as part of the summer-long Surf Rock 2007 festival. Upcoming shows include a visit to the King Kong Club in Pravda on June 6 and The BalconyTV Music Video Awards 2007 in The Sugar Club on June 9.
In other BellX1-related news, David Geraghty releases ‘Fear The Hitcher’ from his upcoming debut album on June 14. The long-player, titled Kill Your Darlings, is due for a September release.
Already likened to Nick Drake, the multi-instrumentalist and his band make their live debut at Crawdaddy, Dublin on June 14.
Dublin three-piece The Laundry Shop release their debut single ‘Highs And Lows’ on June 8. The band, featuring Stephen Robinson on vocals and guitars, Denise Roxenhamn on bass and Col Keegan on drums, have drawn comparisons with The Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, Weezer and Sonic Youth. The single may be familiar to the ear as it appears on the current Discover Ireland campaign.
Noise Control release their long-awaited debut single ‘Steel” on the same date. The band have created quite an impact in their short lifetime having supported Mylo, Underworld and The Prodigy, appeared at O2 In The Park and featured on Pet Sounds and Dan Hegarty’s show on 2FM. In January of this year they set to work in the leafy surrounds of Grouse Lodge and recorded the upcoming release. It was mixed in The Strongroom, London and will be available to download from itunes and Vodafone. The launch night is June 7 in Crawdaddy and admission is FREE!
A third single release on that day comes from Kopek. ‘Stop’ was recorded in LA with Danny Saber. The single and video launch takes place that night in the TBMC. Tickets are €10 from Sound Cellar, City Discs and www.tickets.ie and support on the night is from the wonderful Star Little Thing.

For live updates tune into The Last Splash, Sunday nights 8-10, with Alison Curtis on Today FM.