Beats + Pieces

The fourth release from fledgling Cork techno label Seedy Recordings is the compilation album Wire Horizon presents Recommended Viewing. It features tracks from fifteen Irish producers, including Ikeaboy and Corrugated Tunnel, and is available online at www.seedyr.com or from Tower Records in Dublin. A number of gigs to promote the album coincide with its release on May 27th … Agnelli & Nelson’s Trance Republic mix has just been released on a triple CD that also features sets from London DJs Darren Tate and John Askew. The Northern duo’s selection includes their upcoming single ‘Shiver’ and a track from Navan-based trance producer John O’Callaghan in his Stenna guise…

Global Gathering has whet the appetite of Ireland’s raving fraternity with the promise of four arenas, 30 DJs, 12 hours – and overnight camping – for the summer festival’s Irish launch on Sunday, July 31st. Only 15,000 tickets are on sale for the 2pm to 2am bash at Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Co Cork. Already confirmed are Premiership DJs Tiesto, Carl Cox, Sasha & Digweed, Paul Oakenfold, Dave Clarke and Armin Van Buuren. Not to mention First Division acts capable of drawing huge crowds, the Leeds and Sunderlands of clubbing, if you will – Fergie, Lisa Lashes, Eddie Halliwell, David Morales and Umek. While boasting strong loyal Second Division support are Marco Bailey, Kerri Chandler, Tim Deluxe, Steve Lawler, Adam Freeland, Yousef, Danny Howells and James Zabiela. UEFA Cup contestants Philip Straub and Steve Angello will be engaged in the preliminary rounds with eircom league champions, the Bodytonic DJs and 2FM’s Conor G …

Meanwhile, the more mature clubber – or those affluent enough to afford two festival marathons on consecutive weekends – have just received the welcome news that Audio Bullys have been added to the bill for Electric Picnic, which runs on September 3 and 4 at Stradbally, Co Laois. The Bullys’ are enjoying high profile presently, thanks to their new single ‘Baby Shot Me Down’ featuring Nancy Sinatra – an official release of their massive ‘Bang Bang’ booty which hits the shops this fortnight. Already on the Electric Picnic bill are Kraftwerk, Goldfrapp, Royskopp, De La Soul and Human League. Not to mention headliners Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Fatboy Slim. Tickets (E135 for two days including camping, E105 for two days and E62.50 for one day) are on sale now …

New albums hitting the shelves and online markets this fortnight include Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz’Crunk Juice (on TVT), a diverse urban set with guests such as Snoop Dogg, Rick Rubin, The Neptunes, Usher and Ludacris lending a hand or voice to proceedings. Also on the hip-hop tip, C-Razy Walz’ Year Of The Beast (on Definitive Jux) is top notch New York fare with guests such as Aesop Rock and Dead Prez, while Magik Johnson’s Cardboard Journey (NRK) is electronic house reaching new peaks. Dirty electro propels the BEATS & PIECES favourite, Adriano Canzian’s Pornography (International Deejay Gigolos), a pumped-up set containing last year’s well-received single, ‘My Boyfriend Is Very Sexy’. Also worth mentioning is the re-release of the 1997 debut album from Mr Scruff, who will be performing at the aforementioned Electric Picnic…

Our pick of the compilations doing the rounds in the coming weeks are the classics-packed DJ Premier and Mr Thing compiled The Kings Of Hip-Hop 3 (on BBE), the house sets from Jon Cutler and Hardsoul on Ten Years Of House (MN2S) which marks the first decade of London club Milk ‘N’ Two Sugars. The big one, however, is It’s All Gone Pete Tong (Positiva), which has contributions from Shapeshifters, Deep Dish, Beta Band, 808 State and Depeche Mode and is much more fun than the movie.

And lest not forget a couple of hot singles surfacing about now: New Order’s ‘Jetstream’ (with ace Arthur Baker and Tom Neville mixes, on London), Aldo Vanucci’s ‘Dear Diary EP’ (with Ronin and Blade contributing, on Catskills) and Dwight Trible & The Life Force Trio’s ‘Equipoise’, a six-track funk-fuelled taster for the upcoming Ninja Tune album …

There are some incredible shows and parties to look forward to in the summer months. Husky Rescue and Halfset at Crawdaddy on June 3rd is one of the highlights of the Budrising festival. German techno legend Ian Pooley plays Pogo in Dublin on June 25th, while Detroit’s godfather of techno Derrick May spins at Electric City in Dublin on June 2nd. Disco-house don Joey Negro is the guest at The Savoy in Cork on June 5th, hard dance queen Lisa Lashes makes her Castlebar debut at Mantra on June 3rd, while Judge Jules is launching the new Sky club in Drogheda on June 5th… Those travelling to Ibiza should note that Irish ex-pat Jay Pigeon and his girlfriend Anne Savage are resident DJs at Extreme Euphoria, which runs at Es Paradis on Tuesdays. Jay is also hoping to run a series of Crash Test parties at popular Irish bar Nitelife in San Antonio. More details on that next issue …
This coming fortnight, notable events include DJ T from Berlin joining the Pogo mob in Dublin on May 28th and the aforementioned Wire Horizon crew’s Dublin gigs at Tower (May 27, 6pm), Bodkins (May 27, 9pm) and Conways (May 28, 9pm). And finally, Clampdown is the highly recommended new mash-up club run by Johnny Moy every Friday at Traffic in Dublin, with guests like Arveene and Erol Alkan dropping by on a regular basis. Arveene has signed up for this year’s Red Bull Academy in Seattle. Prospective applicants must send a completed questionnaire along with a mix-CD or a selection of his/her music, and a current photo, to the Red Bull Music Academy before June 3rd. See www.redbullmusicacademy.com … THE BEAT GOES ON!