Beats + Pieces: Taking the Micky

icky Modelle vs Jessy’s ‘Dancing In The Dark’, one of the biggest crossover dance tunes of the year, has landed in the British top 10 on the All Around The World label – just as this column informed you it would way back in January.
It’s the biggest success yet for the Belfast DJ, who has been knocking on the door for several years, with many productions and collaborations under his belt, including the 2005 underground smash, Electroheadz’ ‘Out Of Asia’.
Micky is also behind the Clubland series of compilation albums. The third of these, Country Clubland, sold 30,000 copies in Britain last Christmas. He has also remixed Candi Staton, Atomic Kitten, Samantha Mumba, Nomad and Pink.
Fellow Northern DJs, Agnelli & Nelson, have enjoyed one of the biggest hits of the Ibiza season, thanks largely to Ferry Corsten, who has been hammering their upcoming single ‘Wear That Dress’ in its blistering remix by Navan-based DJ, John O’Callaghan.
Album of the fortnight is Something Came Up from Mekon (PIAS/Wall of Sound). Arguably the best female rapper ever, Roxanne Shante, heads a superb guest vocalist line-up that also includes Bobby Gillespie, Marc Almond, Afrika Bambaataa and Alan Vega.
Another essential purchase is Dr Who Dat’s Beat Journey (Lex), a top-notch jazzy and Latin flavoured selection of feelgood instrumental hip-hop. It will appeal to fans of J Dilla, who delivers his most accessible work yet on The Shining (BBE). Guest rappers include Pharoahe Monch, Busta Rhymes and Madlib.
Chilled by Nature’s One Sun (The Big Chill) is the debut from festival organiser, Pete Lawrence, a sublime, mellow musical mash-up. Also releasing his first long player is Vlad Sokolov. Perestroika (Sokolov Sounds) is a tough and funky breaks-propelled affair which takes no prisoners.
Electric Picnic guest Amp Fiddler’s soulful and funky second album, Afro Strut, cuts a fine groove or three. Its first single, ‘Right Where You Are’, features a remix from another Electric Picnic act, Hot Chip.
Compilations out about now include Circoloco@DC10 Iviza (Azuli), celebrating its Monday morning sessions on Salinas Beach with music from Slam, James Holden and Ron Trent. The Pacha Experience is a more obvious collection of hits from the renowned superclub.
Laurent Garnier’s Retrospective (F Communications) does exactly what is says on the tin with the aid of some collectable live, remix and rare versions of his career-best tunes. On a similar tip is Broadcast’s The Future Crayon (Warp), an 18-track rarities selection.
Emptyheads’ Shake (2 Air) is a potentially big crossover single. The hip-hop and dub infused sk-anthem features Dynamite MC, lots of phat bass and groovy horns. Crunk icon Lil Jon returns with ‘Snap Yo Fingers’ (TVT), from the imminent album Crunk Rock. It’s irritating and your 12-year-old sister will love it.
Supafly Inc’s ‘Moving Too Fast’ borrows from an unlikely ‘80s hit, Phil Collins’ ‘Another Day In Paradise’, although there is little of the sample on the superb MYNC Project mix.
Head and shoulders above the rest is Coldcut’s ‘Walk A Mile In My Shoes’, the standout cut from their Sound Mirrors album. Robert Owens provides the vocal and Tiga provides the big mix.
Electric Picnic headliners Basement Jaxx’s new album, Crazy Itch Radio, is preceded this fortnight by the single ‘Hush Boy’/’Trouble’. The band will be back in November to play the Point.
Limerick superclub Trinity Rooms – and its DJs Paul Webb, JJ and KC – return to Es Paradis in Ibiza for the second Trinity Rooms party of the summer on September 15. Joining them is ex-pat Dermot C, who has been nominated for a Best Ibiza Breakthrough DJ award. Dermot returns to his home city to play Trinity Rooms on September 29th for a Pukka Up Ibiza reunion bash.
London rapper Plan B will perform at Spirit in Dublin on September 29. Also appearing at the club are awesome Parisian four-piece Phoenix, on October 23, and Mylo’s label-mate, Linus Love, on October 6th.
Electric Picnic fever is kicking in around these parts and elsewhere this issue you’ll find the full lowdown on this most eagerly anticipated of festivals. See you down the front for New Order, Pet Shop Boys and Gang of Four, to name but a few.
The last festival of the summer runs at Shane’s Castle in Co Antrim on September 9th. Planet Love WKD marks the last time Fergie’s weekly show will go out live for BBC Radio 1.
Fergie, who was ‘discovered’ a decade ago when the late Tony de Vit took him under his wing, is repaying the favour by giving 16-year-old Northern DJ, Jordan McCuaig, aka Jordan X, the last half hour of his primetime DJ slot, after being blown away by a mixtape the youngster made when he was just 14 years of age.
Also appearing at Planet Love are Chicane, Happy Mondays (DJ set), Mauro Picotto, Judge Jules, Lisa Lashes, Anne Savage, Scot Project, Alex Kidd, Sander van Doorn and the aforementioned Micky Modelle. Expect him to get one of the warmest receptions of his career … THE BEAT GOES ON!