Beats + Pieces: God is a DJ

ublin-born DJ and techno producer, Sian – who is soon to shift base to Barcelona – has his Robot In The Forest EP released on the much respected German label Dirtcrew Recordings later this month.
The prolific Pogo resident – who has also previously recorded for Pokerflat, Dessous, Karmarouge, Einmaleins – follows it in October with a three-track EP on Oliver Huntemann’s Dance Electric label.
Cork ex-pat Mark O’Sullivan keeps up the hefty pace of his recent release schedule with two more new releases: Mark and John’s ‘Pick Up The Phone’ (on Swedish collaborator John Dahlback’s Pick A Doll Records) and Mark and John’s ‘I Saw Your Eyes’ (on Mark’s new JM Recordings imprint).
The next two singles on JM Recordings are already on the schedule for October and November.
Navan-based trance producer John O’Callaghan has a new release, The Digital EP, available online now at recoverworld.com. Two of its three tracks first featured on his excellent Recoverworld Live CD, and the lead track, ‘Cruise Control’, recently became a firm favourite with Judge Jules, who played it for four consecutive weeks on his BBC Radio 1 show.
Dublin-based hard dance label Hard Sounds has signed budding Ringsend producer Wayne Reid’s latest effort, ‘Too Rare to Die’ (a collaboration with WMD aka Alex Calver). It will be coupled on Hardsounds 8 by ‘Fry Up’, which is the work of Karl Davis, John Kerrigan and WMD.
BEATS & PIECES’ favourite rocktronica outfit God Is An Astronaut (pictured) have just released a new digital single, ‘Tempus Horizon’, on godisanastronaut.com. The Wicklow-based three-piece have also announced a series of upcoming live shows, starting at Spring and Airbrake in Belfast on October 11 and climaxing in an eagerly-anticipated gig at Temple Bar Music Centre on November 10.
Bassbin Records’ offshoot, Breakin’, unleashes Macc’s funky and jazzy ‘A Way Of The Small Thought’ and ‘A8V’ this month, followed switfly by Zero T and Mentality’s ‘Last Resort’, which comes paired with The Fix’s ‘Eight Billion Stories’. Both releases will be strictly limited edition pressings of 1,000 copies with full artwork.
The Dublin’s drum’n’bass stamp is also going digital, having teamed up with online stores Knowledge and Fine Tunes to start releasing “exclusive mp3s and some older back catalogue stuff that has sold out” according to stable chief, Rohan.
Techno fans should keep an eye out for Electronic Beats Presents Slices a new DVD magazine for lovers of the genre. The first issue, Slice Special: Pioneers of Electronic Music Volume 1 is a fascinating documentary film about electronic producer, performer and industry icon Richie Hawtin.
Dublin club Remedy has added another couple of dates to its already lively autumn and winter line-up. Champion turntablists The Scratch Perverts jet in for a TBMC show on October 29, while on November 18 it’s the turn of the cut-'em-up king Strictly Kev under the guise of DJ Food.
Waterford club Musiklab has announced details of its sixth birthday party, which is a five-hour jam session by techno legends Chris Liebing and Speedy J, who aim to “blur the boundaries between DJing and playing live.” The blowout kicks off at 9.30pm on Saturday, October 21, and tickets (priced E24) are now on sale at BPM Records, Waterford and Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.
Following a triumphant performance at Hi:Fi last month, Tiesto has announced his return to Ireland. The Dutch icon will perform a five-hour set at the Point Theatre in Dublin on November 4, supported by Progression.
Dublin club Revolution returns this fortnight after a summer hiatus with a ‘Back to the Future’ party.
Hard house triumvirate Paul Glazby, Nick Sentience and Marc Johnson are the main attractions in the banging room. Hardcore legend Slipmatt and fast rising techno DJ also appear, along with Irish DJs such as Karl Davis, John Kerrigan, Scorchio and Spin FM’s John Gibbons.
The 2FM Sessions Tour (which returns this fortnight after a four-year absence with a massive 22-DJ party at The Music Factory) has already lined up two more parties, Lisa Lashes at Mohill, Co Leitrim, in October and Ferry Corsten at the Traveller’s Friend Hotel, Castlebar, Co Mayo in Novmeber. Full details next issue.
Electric Shock 5 runs on Saturday October 28 at Temple Bar Music Centre, with a top techno triumvirate: Berlin’s Steve Bug, Dublin’s Donnacha Costello (who is playing live) and Meath’s Eddie Brennan. Tickets are available from Selectah Records and tickets.ie.
Meanwhile, renowned Galway club, Boogaloo has announced its last ever party will be taking place at the Black Box on Friday December 22.
Co-promoter Cian O’Ciabhain explained the decision to shut up shop. “There’s many reasons why we’re gonna wind down Boogaloo,” he said. “The cost of running the night has spiralled over the years while there no longer seems to be the same interest in alternative clubbing in the city.
“In the early days, we estimated that there were approximately 2,500 people interested in going to Boogaloo. Now we guess that the figure is more like 800.”
Cian’s weekly club, 110th Street, will thankfully continue at The Vic every Saturday ... THE BEAT GOES ON!