Donegal three piece Berkeley, whom some readers may have caught supporting Jimmy Eat World last January, are the latest Irish act to use the services of Steve Albini and his Electrical Audio facility in Chicago.

Tommy McLaughlin (guitar & vocals), Eugene McGinty (bass) and Hugh Law (drums) recorded fifteen tracks with the legendary studio engineer whose recent credits include The Frames, Adrian Crowley, Joan Of Arse and Steve Fanagan. The first fruits of these sessions due out on an EP entitled New Star on Supremo Recordings on May 3rd. Meanwhile, you can catch the noise pop trio over Easter weekend at the Half Moon Club, Cork on Saturday March 30th and De Barra’s, Clonakility on Sunday March 31st.

Cork’s Boa Morte have finally found a home for their recordings on Glaswegian label Shoe Shine Records, owned by Teenage Fanclub drummer Francis McDonald. Their debut album is due for release on May 27th. The lads received a phone call a few weeks ago from the man who is one of their all time heroes, telling them that Norman Blake and himself loved their record.

You can catch Boa Morte’s very first Dublin date on April 7th in Whelan’s with Joan Of Arse, who have just swelled again to a five piece with new member Young Hairy Pat. Boa Morte will also support Scottish act Appendix Out when they tour Ireland in April courtesy of Julius Geezer Records. Other local openers will include Good Time John and Old Man Polka. Alasdair Roberts of Appendix Out has previously recorded with Will Oldham’s Palace Records label and collaborated with Songs:Ohia, International Airport, Rian Murphy, Sean O’Hagan and the Bonny Prince himself. Their new EP A Warm And Yeasty Corner will be out in time for the tour via Cargo Distribution.

Psychonavigation Records have just released a compilation made up of American, Canadian, British, and Irish electro artists. Contributors include local electronica activists ThinkToy, CJC, John Braine and Keith Downey. For distribution details and MP3 samples may your way towards

www.psychonavigation.com.

Dublin outfit Large Mound launched their debut album Raised On Rock last week with a live bash come DJ set. You can enjoy the Large Mound online calendar at Largemound.com.

And finally, NPB are currently putting together a ’zine with a free compilation CD of some of the most happening local sounds around. One to definitely stay tuned to.