Beats + Pieces: Living in the fast lane

Trance star John O’Callaghan’s superb debut album, Something To Live For, is released on January 29 on Discover, with a free bonus CD of club mixes and rarities.
The first single lifted from the album pairs ‘Split Decision’ (in three mixes) and ‘Space & Time’ (in at least two mixes), and the prolific producer is already working on his next project – a remix for Paul van Dyk’s Vandit label.
Northern Irish duo, Psycatron, launch a new digital label of the same name in February. It’s the first release from the pair – aka BBC Radio Ulster’s Across The Line presenter Paul Hamill and former Coast 2 Coast member Phil Johnston – since their 2006 outing on Dutch DJ Sander Kleinberg’s Little Mountain stamp.
The Belfast pair’s digital debut couples the tough, tribal anthem ‘Never Wake Up’ (a firm favourite of Deep Dish, no less) with the dreamy, electro-infused house workout ‘Forget Me’ (which features Phil on vocals).
The lads have also just launched a new club at Belfast venue The Stiff Kitten, entitled Zoo, which has ex-pat, Fergie, flying in for special guest duties on February 16 and mash-up merchant, Erol Alkan, doing the honours on February 23.
Irish hip-hop’s finest, Messiah J & The Expert, unleash single number three from their Choice Music Prize-nominated album, Now This I Have To Hear, on February 16. The twosome will be promoting the infectious anthem, ‘Place Your Bets’, with a nationwide tour.
The first stop of their boogie bus is Whelan’s, Dublin (January 27), to be followed by trips to Roisin Dubh, Galway (February 2), Savoy, Cork (3), Trinity Rooms, Limerick (16), McGarrigles, Sligo (17), Shooters, Wexford (23) and Bar Habana, Portlaoise (24).
All of this activity is followed by a British release for the album – which Beats & Pieces heartily recommends – and March appearances at the South X South West Festival in Austin, Texas and CraicFest in New York.
Dublin hip-hop imprint, All City Records has just released the second EP from Heralds Of Change, aka Mike Slott from Dublin and Hudson Mohawke from Scotland (assisted by American acts, Oddisee, Unknown and Mudd).
‘Sittin’ on the Side’ is a soulful hip-hop six-tracker, featuring the title track, ‘Rock With You’ and instrumentals of both, along with two more instrumental cuts, ‘Callin’ Shots’ and ‘Ridin’ Chrome’.
Ireland’s number one ambient label, Psychonavigation Records, is releasing a new album from the legendary Krautrock producer, Hans-Joachim Roedelius (Cluster) at the end of March. The album, entitled Snapshots/Sidesteps features collaborations between Roedelius and The Orb, Patrick Pulsinger, Moebius and Haeyoung Kim, among others.
Aspiring midlands breakbeat and electro producer Johnny Pluse has just released his ‘Funky 5 EP’ on Invisible Agent. Available as a digital download from junodownload.com, the assured collection includes a wet ‘n’ hard John Gibbons & Spooky remix of ‘Johnny Pluse’.
Hard dance don Karl Davis has announced that the follow-up to the third release on his Pure NRG stamp (the newly-released double a-side featuring ‘Rewind’ by Ben Stevens and ‘Listen Up’ from Defective Audio) is due out at the start of March.
Pure NRG 4 will feature the blistering Dynamic Intervention remix of Karl Davis tune, ‘Technique’, and the Karl Davis and Dave Owens collaboration, ‘Proton’.
The Prodigy have set up their own label, Ragged Flag, through the UK independent label, Cooking Vinyl, with beatmaster Liam Howlett commenting: “We are looking forward to building our label up, starting off with the release of the new Prodigy album. We have recorded a few songs already for this next album and they are sounding big and mean!”
Virtu Studios in Dublin launch a new four-week Thursday night course in Ableton live performance and production, starting on February 1. The cost is €240.00 and you can book your place by calling Barry Dempsey (086 8115415).
There will be no Godskitchen at the Point Theatre over the St Patrick’s weekend as was anticipated, hotpress has learned. However, Paul van Dyk has been confirmed to appear at Tripod on March 16 and tickets will be on sale soon.
Sources have revealed that the world’s number DJ, according to the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll, will also be playing in Portrush on March 17 and Letterkenny on March 18.
Techno extravaganza Electric Shock 9 runs on February 16 at TBMC in Dublin, with Berlin’s Ellen Allien, The Hague’s I-F and Electric City resident, Barry Donovan. Tickets (€22.50 plus booking fee) are now on sale.
Cork clubs Kommunity and Inferno team up to launch Inferno Trance at An Spailpin Fanac on February 9. Guests include DJ Tek, Cheeky and Chris McArdle.
Successful British author and DJ, Bill Brewster, kicks off a hectic February at Space Camp at Rogue on Saturday February 3. Fast rising Irish techno star Dancepig is among the month’s other guests, on February 24.
Lush! in Portrush has announced that its 11th birthday celebrations will run on Friday March 2 and Saturday March 3, with Dutch trance icon Armin van Buuren and progressive house star Nic Fianlucci the respective guests. Admission to both parties is €12 (payable at the door).
The imminent 2FM schedule revamp means the end of Conor G’s tenure and the welcome one-hour extension of Mr Spring’s Saturday night show, which will now be broadcast from 10pm until 1am...THE BEAT GOES ON!