Beats + Pieces: Berlin Stories

Godfather of electronica Hans-Joachim Roedelius was in Ireland recently to perform and promote his new album, Snapshots, which has just been released on Dublin-based stamp, Psychonavigation Records.
The Berliner recorded a three-track studio session for Dan Hegarty’s show on RTÉ 2FM, which includes a cover version of Brian Eno’s ‘By This River’ featuring former Virgin Prunes frontman Gavin Friday on vocal duties. The session will be broadcast in the coming weeks.
Belfast producers Micky Modelle and Ryan Rafferty have received much UK club and radio support for their Nimrod collaboration. ‘My Life’ is currently on release across two 12-inchers on Maelstrom.
Acclaimed Irish electronica outfit Electric Penguins are remixing the forthcoming single from our favourite Irish pop tarts Neosupervital, ‘Now That I’ve Found It’, which is due out in April.
Irish rapper Rob Kelly recently released a new single, ‘Take A Look’, as a digital download. See Rob’s myspace page for full details.
Oxygen Records is a new label run by a Cavan-based hardcore and trance collective. Their latest release is Nu Foundation’s ‘In Kontrol’, which has been included on the Bonkers 16 compilation and received UK DJ support from Kevin Energy, CLSM and Sharkey. See oxygenrecords.net for download details.
The Chemical Brothers release their new album on June 15. The first single will precede it a fortnight earlier and is called ‘Do It Again’ and features vocals by Ali Love, and the album includes further collaborations with The Klaxons, Willy Mason, Spank Rock and Fat Lip.
The inimitable Carl Cox will be making his first Belfast appearance since 2003 at the Stiff Kitten on June 8 (which is the night before his appearance at Garden Party at Ballinlough Castle, County Meath). Tickets go on sale at the Stiff Kitten club on Friday April 13 and are priced £22stg.
One of the brightest stars of techno in recent years, Slovenian DJ and producer Valentino Kanzyani makes his long overdue Irish debut at Dublin DJ and promoter Brian Taaffe’s new club Connection on April 20th. Valentino co-owns the Recycled Loops and Earresistible imprints with fellow Slovenian Umek. Support at The Vaults comes from Taaffe along with two aspiring Dublin DJs, Saoirse Ryan and Wayne Spellman.
Another hotshot making his Irish DJ debut this month is Mark Sherry. Having previously enjoyed pop chart success as one half of Public Domain (whose New Order-sampling debut ‘Operation Blade’ was a top five hit in 2001), Mark has in recent years been banging out unique and refreshing tech-trance anthems on labels such as Detox and Red Monkey. Catch the Scot in action at The Vaults on April 27.
Techno producer Edwin James drags himself away from his studio (where projects on-the-go include a collaboration or two with Hot Press scribe Richard Brophy) to perform live with a vocalist for the first time, at Pogo at PoD on April 28. Incidentally, Pogo will celebrate its second birthday a week earlier, on April 21. Guests lined up include Swedish techno ace Adam Beyer and hip-hop star, DJ Yoda, who will perform an audio-visual set. Incidentally, Yoda’s new single ‘Playing Around’ hits the shops on April 13.
Belfast club Yello (which runs late every Saturday at Mynth) is hosting an acid house party on April 28, with Hacienda DJ Graeme Park at the helm.
The first ever Irish Judgement Sunday party will take place over the June bank holiday weekend, and will be recorded for broadcast on RTÉ 2FM. The same weekend sees Dutch pioneer Sander Kleinberg make a rare Irish appearance at Tripod on Saturday June 1.
The next Letrik party at Rapture in Enfield, County Meath has been confirmed for Friday June 8. The line-up will be officially announced in the coming weeks. Also keeping Ireland safe for the summer is Corona Choice – a summer-long series of one-off events featuring DJ sets from high profile artists. Not only will you hear fresh and exciting music, with many of the acts DJing for the first time in Ireland, it’s also free! Audiences will be made up of invitees and brand competition winners.
The first flush kicks off on May 4 in the South William Bar, South William Street, Dublin 2, musical selection by Bugz in the Attic’s Alex Phountzi featuring MC Leo Greenslade from Yo Yo at Notting Hill Arts Club, and MK (Roots Manuva) featuring MC Mystro. Yo Yo is one of London’s busiest club nights right now. Perhaps something to do with the fact that Yo Yo resident Seb Chew is Lily Allen’s squeeze of the moment!
Corona Choice have more acts to be announced over the summer, from Peter Hook (June 14) to Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse producer) and all sorts in between...
The Corona Choice website will be up and running next week.
A new weekly house club, Ghetto Jackin’, launches in Dublin on Thursday April 12 at Rogue. Opening night guest is the man behind hits such as ‘Sincere’ and Crazy Love’, MJ Cole.
And finally, this column bids a fond farewell to a clubbing institution. After almost nine years of party bitching, Galway’s 110th Street called it a day last month... THE BEAT GOES ON!