Beats+Pieces: Dance news with Mark Kavanagh

Polish DJ Mike Fate, who is based in Cork, has launched a new label, Hilight Recordings, with a single from Leeside legend Marq Walsh in his QuestionmarQ guise. The techno double-header, which pairs ‘Polish Hustle’ with ‘Happinesszz’ will be swiftly followed by an EP from another Cork DJ, Ronan C. The three-tracker is entitled The City of Sound EP. For more details, check out www.hilightdigital.com..
Dublin-based hip-hop stamp All City Records has just released a single from one of the rap acts who emerged from Tallaght in south Dublin during the first wave of Irish hip-hop in the late ‘80s. GhostNJay’s What Do Ye Want EP features contributions from former Scary Eire emcee, Ri-Ra, and aspiring newcomer, Scooby.
Dublin techno producer I.Am.An.Exit (who also records as Chymera and Brendan Gregoriy) releases a heavyweight EP this month, ‘Envelop’. The six-track CD, out on Edwin James’ SeedyR stamp, features remixes from fellow Irish techno acts, Decal, LMD64, The Last Sound and Herv. It is available from specialist stores such as Selectah, or online from djdownload.com.
Next up from the prolific trance producer John O’Callaghan are two of his remixes of fellow Irish trance acts. John’s reworking of ‘Without You’ by Dogzilla (featuring Belfast DJ, Simon Patterson) is set to surface on Maelstrom, while Xtravaganza is to put out his remake of Agnelli & Nelson’s UK top 30 hit, ‘Everyday’. However, given Xtravaganza’s tendency to postpone releases, it could be later in the summer before it hits the shops.
Donegal DJ duo, Timmy and Tommy, have just launched their website, www.timmyandtommy.com, which features free downloads of their own productions along with samples of tracks from other Irish artists such as Group Therapy’s vocalist Nat Leonard. There is also a selection of free DJ mixes available for downloading.
Irish rapper Rob Kelly tells B&P that his latest CD, Bragging Rights, is almost complete and features collaborations with SAS and Baby Blue, production by American heads, Soundsmith and GQ Beats, and guest appearances from Irish DJs, Flip and Mike Donnelly.
Hot albums hitting the shops this fortnight include Loka’s ‘Fire Shepherds’ (on Ninja Tune), a psychedelic leftfield funk opus that is heavy going at times but worth it, and Bang for the Buck (PIAS) by Californian rap trio Ugly Duckling, who performed in Belfast earlier this month.
Compilations out this month include Fabric 27 (Fabric), which is compiled and mixed by techno whiz, Matthew Dear as Audion, Crunk Hits (TVT), a hits-jammed collection starring crunk heroes such as Lil Jon, Usher and Ludacris, and Miami:06 (Defected), a cosmopolitan house set mixed by Defecated’s head honcho Simon Dunmore.
The electronic label Ghostly International’s second compilation, Idol Tryouts Two, rounds up a selection of exclusives and rarities previously unreleased on CD, while minimal house merchants Swayzak pull together a double-CD of their finest hours on Route de la Slack (K7). And worth a mention is the Freerange imprint’s classy house set, Colour Series: Red 03, where King Kooba, Mike Monday and DJ Spinna sit side by side.
DJ Icey presents Y4K (Distinctive Breaks) boasts breaks action from General Midi, ILS, Drummatic Twins and Atomic Hooligan. An essential purchase for any hip-hop fan, meanwhile, is Madlib’s The Beat Conducta Vol 1-2 (Stones Throw), which brings together 35 instrumentals from the revered producer’s mix tapes.
Techno club Electric City’s spin-off, Electric Shock, returns to TBMC in Dublin on June 3 with two of techno’s hottest properties, Dr. Lektroluv and Johannes Heil. Tickets cost €20, and are on sale now from Selectah Records.
On June 4, PoD hosts its first Garden Party, at Ballinlough Castle, Athboy, Co Meath, from 2pm until 2am. Clubby types will be thrilled with the inclusion of acts such as 2 Many DJs, Andy Cato, DJ Marky, The Scratch Perverts and Nightmares on Wax.
Tickets are priced from €65.00 and are on sale now. Full details can be found elsewhere this issue.
American turntablist supreme, Qbert, returns to Ireland after a two-and-a-half year absence to perform for Choice Cuts at TBMC in Dublin on May 26. Tickets are on sale now.
Planet Love is preparing to unleash a showcase of the ancient New Zealand tradition of fire poi alongside UV flag performances by Belfast company Firepoise at its Spring show at Belfast’s King’s Hall on Easter Monday April 17. DJs appearing include Ferry Corsten, Judge Jules, Eddie Halliwell, Yoji Biomehanika, Tidy Boys, MIKE Push and Gleave Dobbin. Tickets cost Stg£27.50 (plus £2.45 booking fee).
Collective Music returns to The Vaults on Easter Sunday, April 16. Fade’s prog-house pioneer Steve Porter will be supported by Hot Press scribe Richard Brophy and his fellow Dublin DJ, Rob Hawk. On the same night, Hed Kandi DJs, Andy Norman and John Jones appear at PoD, and James Ruskin and Oliver Ho go head-to-head in a techno soundclash at TBMC. While on Easter Saturday, Pogo at Pod will welcome acclaimed Finnish DJ, Jussi Pekka.
Electro rockers Digitalism have been added to the bill for the Radio Soulwax show at The Ambassador in Dublin on April 12. Warp Records’ pioneers, Autechre..
Ahead of all that, this fortnight sees one of the hard dance scene’s leading ladies, Lisa Pin-Up, jetting in to spin at The Barge Rooms in Ennis. Tickets for the Marc 31 party cost €20 and are on sale now in Zhivago (Galway), Record Rack (Ennis) and Empire Music (Limerick). And finally, Fergie has asked us to point out that he will not now be appearing at Cork City Hall on June 4th … THE BEAT GOES ON!