Cork techno don Chymera has discovered that it’s an excellent idea to meet your heroes.

Hot on the heels of his ‘Umbrella’ single on Josh Wink’s Ovum, Cork-born techno producer Chymera – currently back in Ireland for a month’s relaxation and a gig at Electric City on July 28 – has lined up a monster release on Triangle, Orlando Voorn’s imprint.
“It’s an honour to be on the label of one of my heroes,” Chymera says. The single in question, ‘Valerian’, will be remixed by Orlando and hits the shops in August. There will be a limited edition second 12-inch remix package too, touched by the hands of Underground Resistance, no less.
Northern trance duo Agnelli & Nelson have confirmed their long-awaited return will be with the rock-infused stompathon, ‘Wear That Dress’. Heralding a shift in style, the single paves the way for a second album which they wrote and recorded during the past 15 months. Chris Agnelli and Robbie Nelson have been involved in months of contractual wrangling with their former record label Xtravaganza and the new single is their first for Deep Blue Recordings. It comes with a remix from fellow Irish trance sensation John O’Callaghan.
The mighty Ork Recordings from Cork – run by Fish Go Deep and DK7’s Mark O’Sullivan – is the next port of call for Chymera. The Leeside label unleashes the Shadowdancer EP in September on vinyl (with a bonus track on the digital version entitled ‘I Know Now What You Seek’).
O’Sullivan’s DK7, meanwhile, have just inked a deal for their second album with MRC. The Leesider and Jesper Dahlback have spent a lot more time on the songwriting this time around, and are more than pleased with the results. Fans will have to wait until February to hear the album, but the good news is that the first single from it will surface in a host of club remixes in September.
The pair are delighted with the fact that the deal allows them to keep their own recently launched DK7 Recordings stamp going. Its next offering couples two fresh remakes of ‘Where’s The Fun’ from their debut album – Zoo Brazil and Joel Mull are on remix duties – along with a brand new track ‘Instone’. Previews of the EP are online now at www.dk7.nu
O’Sullivan is currently putting the finishing touches to a remix for Jeff Bennett of Kung Fu Dub and Plastic City fame. “The beauty of modern technology,” he reminds Beats & Pieces, “is that I have a studio with me on my laptop wherever I go.”
Edwin James and the seedyR techno crew have just launched a sister label called seedyburnR. The first outing is a double EP featuring tracks by Finland’s Willy Baxter and Ireland’s H3lx.
Limerick DJs Ross Nagle and Buddy have signed their first creation as Kandyflipperz to Dublin-based house stamp Queep Recordings. ‘Freak Like You’ will be released with remixes from Queep regulars Melchyor A, Atom and Djamel along with treatments from two sets of newcomers, German duo A.C.K and Simon Point and Italian pair Marco Bruzzano and Roberto Capuano. 
Hard dance don Karl Davis has revealed the line-up for the fifth twelve on his own Pure NRG Records. The three-tracker features Karl’s ‘Skoolz Out’ in original and Captain Tinrib remixes along with the original mix of ‘Technique’. And out this month on the UK label, Mad Cow, is Karl’s cheeky hard house anthem, ‘Me Maa’.
Belfast’s hugely popular after-hours club Yello has announced it will host a party from legendary London session DTPM after the annual Belfast Gay Pride Parade on Saturday August 4. Guest DJs lined up for Yello slots this summer include top Northern producer Gleave Dobbin (August 11), Renaissance man Dee McAuley (August 18) and Crazy P (August 25).
Speaking of after-hours sessions, there was a time when London’s Trade was the most infamous of all. Co-founded by Irishman Laurence Malice back in 1991, the club returns to Ireland for its annual summer knees-up later this month.
On July 28, Music Factory in Carlow will be transformed into a home for hedonism with three rooms of high octane hard dance. DJs include iconic Trade names such as Andy Farley, BK, Ian M and Steve Thomas, and tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.
The first ever Ultrashock party runs at the PoD complex in Dublin on Bank Holiday Sunday August 5 from 9pm. The mammoth party includes sets from Prins Thomas, Mystery Jets, Chicks On Speed, Candy, Shock DJs, Skull Juice DJs, Space Camp DJs and Synth Eastwood. Tickets cost just €15.
On Thursday August 2 at Crawdaddy, Backlash hosts a special party featuring a live set from Swedish hotshots Lo-Fi Fnk. Also on the bill are Dublin-born Marcus Lambkin (aka DFA’s Shit Robot) and the Backlash DJs featuring Jon Averill. Tickets cost just €8 in advance from www.gigg.ie
And finally, Underworld have announced they will be promoting their new album Oblivion With Bells with a show at King’s Hall in Belfast on October 6. Tickets (which cost £25) are on sale now… THE BEAT GOES ON!