not one, not two, but three. yes, three things of note!

Tomorrow sees the official release of the new album 'Ritual' by Jape. Now before I get into the music I'll disclose that I think Richie Egan is a top bloke. Not only is he a top bloke but he's got a good buzz about himself and all things related to his music. One of the tunes, 'I was a man' has been getting a decent bit of airplay on the likes of Phantom FM. However there are some other real gems on this album that runs to just over 40 minutes. The album cover is another job by M&E and I should also point out that Mattie from M&E is another top bloke. Mattie and his good lady Emelie made the last video for Richie, the one where he's pelted with fruit. They've got a great buzz going on too. They've been at it again and they've made a video for 'Graveyard' another of the tunes from the new album. They play the song live in what appears to be Mount Jerome cemetery (you can see the chimney for the cremations behind them). Anyhow I've listened to the album once this evening and my favourite so far is number 6. It's playing in another room so I couldn't be arsed getting up to look at the CD cover. Rock on Richie Jape and to the staff member of the record store that sold it to me before he was supposed to. Stick it to the man and all that! It's out tomorrow. Buy it.

As if one new album by an Irish artist wasn't enough to fill a post, I just recently received an e-mail from my old pals Rollers/Sparkers. These chaps released the 'Geography for the Leaving' album in 2004 and have just gotten around to following it up with their new album entitled 'Hames'. Once again I'll declare an interest. These boys are also some of the nicest chaps you'll come across and along with their bookish looks and rapier wit they also manage to create some great sounds. I've been lucky enough to see them twice. I'm also lucky enough to regularly meet one of the band members cycling down Capel St in the morning. Cycling two abreast can be quite a thrill. His cycling wets leave a lot to be desired though, he tends to opt for those garish yellow jackets.

*EDIT: It appears that they have had an intervening album and that Geography for the Leaving was actually an EP. Ooops.

Anyhow, their album release is coming up on Friday 27th June on Lazybird Records. The launch gig will be in the Boom Boom Room, which is now located downstairs in Murray's of O'Connell Street. They'd love it if you came down, immersed yourselves in the gently undulating soundwash and bought their new CD. As if that wasn't enough of an attraction the support act will be Dara O'Brien in a tabla and sitar duo that will question everything you've ever held dear about the Occident. They'll also have Neil Donovan (whose Dad I used to work with and who incidentally is another top human being, his Dad that is, although Neil's very nice too) and Paul Watts spinning some tunes. Sound!

And finally, I bumped into the best hugger that the southside of Dublin has produced. He is the multi-talented musician, clown and generally good vibes guy Bryan Quinn. Some of you might know him from his trumpet playing, others might have seen his clowning and acting efforts with either of the Doherty brothers, David or Mark. As it happens BQ is directing a childrens play that's on in the Project Arts Centre over the next couple of days. Its stars David O'Doherty and Maeve Higgins and is called 'I can't sleep'. I told BQ I wouldn't make it but then I promised the kids that I'd bring them.

Here's Jape singing in a graveyard with Mattie:

JAPE 'Graveyard' : Live from the grave
Uploaded by MatthewANDemelie

all sixes and sevens

Both myself and my good lady wife are awaiting the imminent arrival of our fourth child. It was due today, but in typically Irish fashion, it's late. Most people are quite bemused when they hear its our fourth. Isn't that an awful lot they ask? Well not really. Once you've gone past two kids it doesn't really make much odds. As an old relative of mine used to say 'Sure you need four to carry the box!' What a nice sentiment.

I haven't wandered too far from home but I did go to watch the Arsenal match in a friends house today. I won't be invited back in a hurry. The last time I was there we got hockeyed by Tottenham and today it was 4 - 0 to Man Utd. I'm quite sure I watched in his house when we lost the Champions League final to Barcelona. i think its best for all concerned if I just watch all future matches on my own somewhere. Anyhow the match was shite but when I arrived home my seven year old son was watching TV and an advertisement for the 25th Anniversary Edition of Thriller came on. My son looked at Michael Jackson, looked back at me and said 'Dad, he looks like Mully!. This kind of stuff is the reason to have kids, they come out with some great shit. As Mully, an old pal of mine, is a Man Utd fan that really served to soften the blow of the result. We may have lost but at least I don't look like Michael Jackson. Well done son.

I also got my copy of Mr Amperduke by Bob Byrne in the post yesterday. It was worth every penny of the €14.95 I paid for it. Support Irish comics and go and buy it.

In terms of musical activity I picked up some nice seven inches in All City Records on Friday. Both are brand new recordings but have a massive soul sound of yesteryear. The first is a new seven by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings doing a cover of an old Kenny Rogers song 'I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in'. These guys are great. I didn't bother buying their recent album (100 Days, 100 Nights) but I'll most likely go and buy it after hearing this tune. If you get the chance you should check them out live in The Button Factory here in Dublin on April 10th.

The other seven is by Baby Charles doing a cover of 'I bet you look good on the dancefloor', the Arctic Monkeys tune. Baby Charles a UK based soul band who mix up quirky covers with their own material. They seem to be flavour of the month at the moment and deservedly so. They're the British version of Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings.

Finally, I'm a man who likes to keep my finger on the musical pulse. Well that's not entirely true. When things are hyped I tend to give them a cooling period before i touch them. I ignored the entire Radiohead 'In Rainbows' furore of a few months back. In fact it wasn't until this week that I got the album. I'd seen them perform a couple of numbers on Jools Holland's Later some weeks back and was really impressed. I'd also bought the first single from the album and I really like it. Unsurprisingly I like the album. I'm not a big fan of theirs, never have been, in fact I own nothing else by them. This album is great though. I listened to it when I was varnishing the back door today. They can put that on the album: 'Great for varnishing your back door to - Matt Vinyl'.