Agnelli & Nelson’s seventh single on Xtravaganza Records, ‘Shiver’, is finally released on September 23rd. The Northern duo’s trance epic has been a massive summer season clubland hit, and comes complete with a remix by John O’Callaghan. The Navan-based whiz will quickly follow up his acclaimed A&N reworking with a remix of Hemstock & Jennings’ ‘The Passion’, which is set for release on Darren Tate’s Mondo Records label early in October.
Autamata – founded by Dublin-based musician/producer Ken McHugh, and featuring songwriter-vocalists Carol Keogh and Sarah Verdon – have just released Short Stories, their second album, an impressively eclectic affair that takes in electroclash, folktronica and old skool acid house. The 13-track musical journey is sure to be a hit with the Electric Picnic generation.
The Leo Pearson and Who Made Who club remixes of Dublin sonic terrorists Mainline’s debut single ‘Black Honey’ have just been re-released on New York label Plant Records by popular demand. European distribution will be handled by Pinnacle.
Next month sees the release of Gang Of Four’s Return The Gift (due on V2 Records), a double-CD compilation of the original punk-funk act’s finest moments along with remixes and covers by artists such as Dandy Warhols and No Doubt. A new version of the Gang’s ‘I Love A Man In A Uniform’, featuring the vocals of Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, precedes the album.
Also, this coming fortnight sees the release of the debut album from Darren Tate, the powerful trance set Horizons 01 (Mondo). Other new compilations: Prince Paul’s Hip Hop Gold Dust (Antidote), a collection of the production giant’s genuine rap classics and unreleased rarities, Jermaine Dupri’s Young, Fly & Flashy Vol 1 (So So Def/Virgin), which turns the spotlight on America’s southern hip-hop boom, and Wicked Weekend (Kickin’), an uptempo house set crammed with exclusives like the Young Punx Remix of De’Lacy’s ‘90s smash, ‘Hideaway’.
On the singles front, look out for Depeche Mode’s ‘Precious’ (Mute), which features mixes from Sasha, Motor, Misc and Michael Mayer. Tiga’s ‘You Gonna Want Me’ (PIAS) is produced by Soulwax and boasts Jake Shears from Scissor Sisters on guest vocals (and sounding like Candi Staton). Meanwhile, Hard-Fi unleash Axwell onto ‘Hard To Beat’ from their awesome debut Stars Of CCTV (Atlantic). Axwell does a damn fine job too. Merka’s ‘Hug A Speaker’ (Fat) is a breaks-propelled slice of filthy funk worth checking out, while soulful house fans will welcome heavyweights Blaze & Ultra Nate teaming up on ‘Wonderful Place’ (suSU).
Note to Dublin clubbers: a brand new custom built bi-level venue will open on September 24 at the old Isaac Butt site (directly facing Busaras). Radio City will have a 500-capacity downstairs main room, a 200-capacity vault VIP area and a 250-capacity pre-club bar upstairs. In-house promotions crew Melodica launch the new venue with a special invitation-only event, but lined up for paying customers on Saturdays in the coming months are James Holden, Nick Warren, King Unique, Paolo Mojo, Ashtrax, Danny Howells and Hernan Cattaneo. The Melodica residents will be Dublin-based foursome, Mike Mooney, Marty Sheridan, Erik Kristen and Ciaran Reilly.
Even better news for the capital is that the refurbished, enlarged Redbox reopens a week later. Also, the invite-only Sony Playstation 10th anniversary bash runs at the Harcourt Street complex on September 26, with Groove Armada and Spin FM’s John Gibbons gracing the new stage. Redbox is, of course, co-promoting the next Godskitchen event at the Point Theatre on Sunday October 30, which features Dutch icons Armin van Buuren and Ferry Corsten. On the same night, at the Ambassador in Dublin, the Official Temple Theatre Reunion party sees Mauro Picotto in action.
Shapeshifters will be promoting their House Grooves Vol 2 compilation with a date at Crawdaddy in Dublin on October 7. Hard dance icon Andy Farley plays the Energize 1st birthday party at Liquid in Bray on October 15. Rap legend Kool Keith plays The Village in Dublin on Thursday October 25. Techno prime mover Adam Beyer spins at TBMC in Dublin on November 4. Soulwax follow their Electric Picnic shenanigans with a live event at Spirit on October 9. Mylo plays live at Spring & Airbrake in Belfast on October 31.
Dublin club Choice Cuts takes over The Sugar Club in Dublin on October 1, as part of the Dublin Theatre festival, with The New Mastersounds supported by Retrophonic. On the same night, 2FM’s prodigal son John Power guests at The Hillstreet in Leitrim. The next Headshake at The Legal Eagle on September 30 is headlined by Serbian techno star Marko Nastic (of Recon Warriors and Recycled Loops fame). Ahead of that, on September 29, Freeform Five join an elite list of guests for Backlash at Wax in Dublin …
Among over 400 DJs and artists attending the Amsterdam Dance Event (which runs from 27 ­29 October) are Paul van Dyk, Derrick May, Dave Clarke, Armin van Buuren and Roisin Murphy. Booking details are available from www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl.
And finally, voting in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll 2005 – online at www.djmag.com/top100-entry-form.php – will close on September 30. THE BEAT GOES ON