Beats + Pieces

Belfast house producer Gregory Ferguson’s Jupiter Ace single ‘1000 Years’ has joined an elite band of records to twice hit the top slot in the UK’s hugely influential Cool Cuts and BBC1FM Buzz charts! The recent second rise to the summit came courtesy of the new full vocal version which stars Shena McSween – best known as the voice of Michael Gray’s monster hit ‘The Weekend’. Gregory also became the first Irish DJ ever to have TWO records in the Buzz Chart top 10 – his Jupiter Ace presents JA Teknixx release, ‘Until The Music Stops’, is a new entry at No9. ‘1000 Years’ will be released on Manifesto on July 11, and the video was shot last month in London. BBC1FM radio play has been considerable, and with Mixmag running a major feature on Gregory in its next issue, it’s looking like a long hot summer for the bearded Belfast beatmaster …
Cork deep house duo Greg Dowling and Shane Johnson recently set up their own label, Ork Recordings. The debut release is a firm favourite with top international DJs such as Laurent Garnier, Trevor Jackson and David Duriez. ‘Culture Bug’ by Mighty Fish is a collaboration between Fishgodeep (Shane and Greg) and Mark O’Sullivan of The Mighty Quark and DK7 fame.
Fast rising trance star John O’Callaghan’s latest release, a co-production with Dublin DJ Neal Scarborough called ‘The Chamber’ by Inertia, is being caned by leading international trance stars, Armin van Buuren and Paul van Dyk. The track was played four times in one night at Cream in Liverpool recently. The prolific studio whiz has just posted a new track, ‘Consideration’, on his www.johnocallaghan.net site, and a free DJ mix will be online soon. Incidentally, the Navan-based producer’s DJ bookings take him to Poland and Canada this month …
John O’Callaghan has also remixed Agnelli & Nelson’s imminent summer anthem, ‘Shiver’ – which is being tipped to give the Northern duo their sixth UK top 30 hit and is due out on promo this fortnight.
New albums out this fortnight worth investigating include Shirokuma’s electro-pop delight, Secret Moves At The Midnight Chess Club (on Faith & Hope), Leggo Beast’s Thunk (Big Chill), a groovy, brassy, summer soundtrack for stoners and (the B&P favourite) Minotaur Shock’s beautiful Maritime (4AD), which has been compared a lot to Boards Of Canada but is really quite unique. Two compilations that raise the bar are Sasha’s Fundacion (Global Underground), a vinyl and CD-free mix of re-edits and exclusive mixes, and The Scratch Perverts’ Fabric Live set (Fabric Live), a veritable hip hop classic. On a different tip are Ian Pooley’s A Subterranean Soundtrack on NRK (which includes a bonus CD full of Pooley productions) and The Great Gigolo Swindle, the 50th release International Deejay Gigolos which houses rare and exclusive cuts from Dave Clarke, Miss Kittin and Jeff Mills. Last but not least, Satoshi Tomiie’s ES (Saw) is the first in a two-part series, with the second to follow later this summer …
A host of Irish DJs have been added to the line-up for this summer’s biggest dance festival Global Gathering. The aforementioned John O’Callaghan and yours truly join the Godskitchen Arena, alongside international spinners Eddie Halliwell, Lisa Lashes, Fergie, Armin van Buuren, Paul Oakenfold and Tiesto. The House Arena boasts a superb line-up of David Morales, Tim Deluxe, Kerri Chandler, Adam Freeland, Yousef, Steve Angelo and John Power. In the Carl Cox & Friends Arena, Dave Clarke, Chris Liebing, Umek, Marco Bailey and Philip Straubb join the techno legend. And in the Global Arena, Redbox star Robbie Butler, LRB and Mucca represent Ireland alongside the inimitable Sasha & Digweed, Steve Lawler, Danny Howells and James Zabiela. The all-Irish VIP arena will host Bodytonic DJs, Conor G, Ronan O, Johnny da Bomb, Gary C, Necksnapper, FM104’s Freaks On Friday presenter Al Gibbs, Rob Martin, Darren Rice and Necksnapper. More DJs are set to be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for the festival are now on sale, and cost €61 or €81 including an overnight camping pass …
On the back of his latest mix album, Release Yourself 4, Roger Sanchez has announced a date at Dublin club Spirit – Friday August 5. Also appearing at the club this summer are Cosmos’ star Tom Middleton on July 2nd, rapper Common – whose new BE album is an essential purchase – on July 5, electro icon Felix da Housecat on July 31 and New York upstart Armand van Helden on August 26. Tickets for all of these shows are now on sale from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide … Eamonn Doyle’s Model One club is now running on Saturdays at Traffic in Dublin …
Jurassic 5’s turntablist champion Cut Chemist chops ‘em up at The Village on June 25… Thievery Corporation play Vicar Street in Dublin on June 23…
And finally, this Saturday (June 18) sees the ballrooms, bars and gardens of the spectacular Glenart Castle in Co Wicklow opening for Masquerade, where circus meets cabaret, meets clubbing meets rock. It is an exclusive, ticket-only boutique festival featuring over 35 Irish and international bands, DJs, comedians, dancers and performers. DJs include Nigel H, Francois and Derek Duff. For more information, check out www.masquerade-ireland.com
… THE BEAT GOES ON!