The Racket Space in the hip Bernard Shaw pub on the canal near Glasnevin does what its name suggests and provides a location for creative expression and artistic exploration.
With electronic music still being a comparatively niche pastime compared with say Berlin, Paris or London, Ice Machines is a Dublin-based collective founded by Brian Christopher (AMALGAMATED WONDERS OF THE WORLD), Peter Fitzpatrick (CIRCUIT3), Brian O’Malley (PolyDROID), Mike Wilson (100 POEMS) and Aidan Casserly (EMPIRE STATE HUMAN) to further the cause with free events aimed at the committed and the curious.
For the joy of synth and friendship, the fivesome have even released an ‘Ice Machines’ compilation album with each artist contributing one original and one cover version in aid of the Musical Youth Foundation, a charity supporting access to music education and instrument learning for children across Ireland. This second Ice Machines event was to launch that collection with live performances from all participants in a gathering of like-minds.
Photo by John Keenan
The day began with electronic instrument demos, the most interesting of which was the SOMA Terra, a wooden cased synth without a conventional keyboard but instead touch sensitive fingertip sensors to control it. There were also live improv performances from various local artists using devices as varied as portastudios, Akai keyboard controllers, digi-analog sequencers and Prophet 800 boutique-modules. This provided an artful audio backdrop for a small record stall that included an oddball collection of second hand releases including ‘Sing Lofty’ by Don Estelle & Windsor Davies, David Essex’s debut LP and Jean Michel Jarre’s ‘Oxygène’ alongside local independently released drum ‘n’ bass 12 inchers!
For the main musical section of the evening, having 5 electronic acts on a small stage was always going to be an interesting challenge logistically so as anticipated, the opening DJ set was occasionally interrupted by line checks although amusingly, one of the acts appeared to forget it was line check as extended bursts of gliding synth wobbled off and on, very loud and very clear!
Photo by John Keenan
AMALGAMATED WONDERS OF THE WORLD opened proceedings with a continuous mix of abstract constructions that was at times ambient and at times techno with many generative possibilities in between. Brian Christopher is also part of Bloop Groop, an inclusive Dublin digital hub established to encourage local modular enthusiasts to “Jam, Hang, Play” and many of their number were present at Ice Machines II to show their support by cheering and / or dancing.
Despite feedback issues, CIRCUIT3 soldiered on through his disco excursion ‘Louder Than Words’, an unexpected rock tinged adventure ‘Major Tom’s Helter Zeppelin’ that included a number of familiar vocal passages and a reimagination of the DEPECHE MODE B-side ‘Ice Machine’ using Dave Gahan’s original vocals that prompted an audience singalong.
Photo by Chi Ming Lai
Having spent over 10 years in hiatus, PolyDROID presented a largely melodic instrumental set which included the excellent ‘Six Of One’ inspired by cult TV drama ‘The Prisoner’, but those present were stopped in their tracks by a vocoder interpretation of Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound Of Silence’ which was transformed into a stark tone poem.
In contrast, 100 POEMS offered something much nosier and esoteric with (Shock! Horror!) a guitar and a surprising burst of THE WHITE STRIPES’ ‘7 Nation Army’ although a cover of THE NORMAL’s ‘Warm Leatherette’ using a well-spoken computer–generated female announcer kept things on track with the ethos of the evening.
Photo by John Keenan
14 stories high at least, EMPIRE STATE HUMAN finished with a high energetic pop performance that would delight ERASURE fans by opening with ‘Leap Of Faith’ from 2009’s ‘Audio Gothic’ album; however the tempo was later slighted to allow room for a synth cover of ‘Superstar’, the rather dark tale of a groupie which was incongruously made famous by THE CARPENTERS but later given a much more sinister treatment by SONIC YOUTH in 1992.
While there were occasional technical glitches, the time flew by and then like in ‘Mr Benn’, as if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared and it was time to for the Ice Machines posse to vacate The Racket Space for the Saturday club nite DJs to bring their sound system in.
Photo by John Keenan
Dublin has steadily morphed into a wonderful multicultural melting pot and Ice Machine II was a warm friendly gathering of generations. It was particularly lovely see the Philpott triplets from EMBRACE THE CRISIS who are among the longest standing synthpop enthusiasts in The Emerald Isle and are still keeping the faith and passion alive.
While most of those of a maturer disposition went home after an enjoyable evening, the comparative youngsters from Bloop Groop stayed on at the Bernard Shaw, probably plotting how electronic music will mutate in the future… because it will!
ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK DJ set at Ice Machines II:
KITE Up For Life
CAMOUFLAGE The Great Commandment
PAUL HAIG The Only Truth (12” Version)
RHEINGOLD Computerbeat
PLASTIC BERTRAND Tout Petit La Planète
AU REVOIR SIMONE Tell Me (Un Autre Monde mix by MIRRORS)
MIRRORS Hide & Seek
PHIL LYNOTT Yellow Pearl
SPARKS When Do I Get To Sing ‘My Way’? (THE GRID Radio Edit)
GIORGIO MORODER Chase
KLEIN & MBO Dirty Talk (USA Connection)
CERRONE Supernature (12” Version)
JOHN FOXX & THE MATHS Summerland
ALPHAVILLE x SCHILLER Summer in Berlin
AMANDA LEAR Follow Me
KRAFTWERK Computerwelt (12” remix)
BERLIN Now It’s My Turn
FOX Electro People
DONNA SUMMER I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley 7” remix)
ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK gives its warmest thanks to all at Ice Machines
‘Ice Machines: The Album – For the Joy of Synths & Friendship’ is available digitally on Bandcamp at https://icemachines.bandcamp.com/album/ice-machines-the-album
https://www.facebook.com/AMALGAMATEDWONDERS
https://www.facebook.com/polydroid
https://100poems.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/empirestatehumanofficial
Text by Chi Ming Lai
11th August 2025
Follow Us!