Beats + Pieces

Ireland’s third major dance festival of the summer has been announced. Planet Love returns for the first time since 2003 with more than 60 DJs performing in eight arenas over 11 hours. Planet Love ’05 will run at Shane’s Castle, Co Antrim on Bank Holiday Sunday August 28th – a month after Global Gathering in Cork and a week before Electric Picnic in Stradbally. International DJs confirmed to appear include Armin van Buuren, Lisa Lashes, Eddie Halliwell, Marco V, Ferry Corsten, Umek, Scot Project, Tidy Boys, Anne Savage and Rolando.
Irish stars on the bill include Fergie, Agnelli & Nelson, Jupiter Ace, Gleave Dobbin and Electroheadz. There will be eight arenas – Love for trance, Archetype for techno, Goodgreef for hard dance, Rendezvous for old skool, Urban Culture for breaks and beats, Retro VIP for club classics, the 100 per cent Northern Irish stage hosted by Keymix and the Love House arena for lovers of all things house. Additional attractions will include a funfair and the 2005 MC Battle Championships Final with breakdancers and graffiti artists. Planet Love ’05 will run from 2pm until 1am, and there will be coach services from leading cities and transport terminals. Tickets for the festival cost stg£39.50 plus booking fee and are on sale now …
Galway-based electronic act Cane141 will release their third album MoonPool on Exceptional Records on July 4th. The album features 12 new compositions and was written, played, produced and recorded by band mainstay Michael Smalle. Cane141 play their first live show in over a year as guests of the Galway Arts Festival on Thursday July 14th. Special guests include Domino recording artist Max Tundra and Galway electro artist Mr Weasel … Former Moloko babe Roisin Murphy’s recently released debut solo album, the jazzy pop cocktail Ruby Blue, has enjoyed a stunning round of reviews, not least thanks to Matthew Herbert’s sublime production. Here’s hoping it will become one of the summer’s big hits …
Fresh from their recent show in Dublin, Thievery Corporation release ‘Revolution Solution’ (with Perry Farrell on vocals), the latest single from the excellent album The Cosmic Game (on ESL), on July 4th in new Brendan Lynch remix. Other singles out about now include Fischerspooner’s ‘Just Let Go’ (International Deejay Gigolos) with a new M.A.N.D.Y. remix, and ‘Bucky Done Gun’ from M.I.A.’s incendiary debut album Avular (XL). Electric Picnic stars Soulwax unleash their live favourite ‘NY Excuse’ (Pias), DJ Format delivers album standout ‘Separated At Birth’ (Pias) and Oxegen headliners Deep Dish follow last year’s mammoth hit ‘Flashdance’ with the surprisingly tranced-out bliss of ‘Say Hello’. While ahead of their remix of New Order’s ‘Waiting For A Sirens’ Call’ single, French electro-pop outfit Colder unleash their ‘Wrong Baby’ single and new album Heat …
Also on the albums front this fortnight, QNC’s debut on Grand Central, Duo Dynamic, is an aptly titled collection of funky and fun hip-hop, while Afu-Ra’s State Of The Arts (Decon) is a no less enjoyable foray into far wightier hip-hop territory. Cristian Vogel pushes the techno-soul envelope even further than usual on Station 55 (Novamute), while Fat Freddy’s Drop’s Based On A True Story (Kartel) blends soul and dub with slo-mo, hi-tek beats. Album of the fortnight (and some would say the year) is the mesmerising second effort from Electric Picnic headliners Royksopp’s, The Understanding (Wall Of Sound), which blends a more mature take on their electronic tomfoolery and with an opening round of songwriting that succeeds where many dance types fail. Classy pop music for summer nights …
Summer is traditionally a boom time for compilations, and 2005 is no exception. Making ideal companions on trips to Ibiza, or anywhere hot and sunny for that matter, are Café Mambo Ibiza on Defected. Mixed by Pete Gooding, it includes choice chilled vibes from the likes of Art Of Noise, Moby, Bent, 4 Hero and Lonnie Liston Smith. Space Ibiza 2005 (Azuli) is mixed by Dave Piccioni and features huge anthems such as the new ‘Pump Up The Jam’ and imminent monsters such as Deux’s ‘Sun Rising Up’. Underwater Episode 04 (Underwater) sees Ibiza stalwart Darren Emerson team up with Sharam Jey (currently finishing his artist album ahead of a September release). Their sets are a techy mix of breaks and electronic house.
There are some non-Ibiza flavours too. House classics fill The Kings Of House, which may make up for the recent postponement of the Masters At Work show in Dublin. Classy mixing and choice tunes. Drum ‘n’ bass fans watch out for Livin’ Drumz (Full Cycle), a 15-cut set of Clipz’ finest hours with superb mixing, while older readers may fondly recall some of the gems on Northern Soul selection Once Upon A Time In Wigan (BBE), the soundtrack to the contemporary play of the same name …
The Electric Picnic crew have announced the alternative accommodation option of Tipis and Beach Huts for their two-day Kraftwerk-featuring festival at Stradbally, Co Laois on September 3rd and 4th. The beach huts (8ftx6ft, sleeping two people) sound like the more comfortable option. Furnished simply with a sofa bed, there is lighting, a power point, a lockable front door and a reception area for you to leave your key. Full details online at www.electricpicnic.ie …
On the clubbing front, there are a number of notable special events looming this fortnight. Hard dance god Paul Glazby plays Euphoria at Parnell Mooney tomorrow (July 1st), Tom Middleton spins at Spirit in Dublin on Saturday (July 2nd), London techno star Oliver Ho plays TBMC in Dublin on July 8th and peerless Dublin pioneer Billy Scurry guests at Bodytonic in Dublin on the same date. Not to mention the big one, the Oxegen festival at Punchestown in Co Kildare on July 9th and 10th, full details of which are elsewhere this issue … Dates further down the line which have been announced are Irish trance duo Agnelli & Nelson at Fabric in Tralee on July 15th, mash-up merchants The Glimmers at The Vic in Galway on July 23rd and deep house don Kenny Hawkes at Axis Mundi in Waterford on July 30th …THE BEAT GOES ON!