Kicking against the sticks

Choice Music prize nominees, Cane141, kick off 2006 with their first new release since 2005’s album Moon Pool. ‘Foxy Trot’ is a free download single available from www.cane141.com, and is backed in old school style by the b-side instrumental ‘Mack The Joy Hound’. The a-side was written and produced by Michael Smalle and features Sinead Buckley on vocals.
Trim-based Irish DJ and producer Johnny Pluse has just released his debut album, Funky 5 Years Ago, on his own Bulabeats label. It’s an impressive collection of hip-hop and breakbeat jams, and 2FM’s Mr Spring has been caning ‘The Market Street Hustle’.
With World Cup 2006 fever kicking in all around us, it should be no surprise to you that some of this fortnight’s best compilation albums have a little footie flavour. Paz E Futebol (on Sonar Kollektiv) is a Jazzanova-compiled showcase of top notch Brazilian flavas, and Gilles Peterson’s Back In Brazil (Ether) is an equally essential collection of samba-tastic sounds.
On a different tip, Thievery Corporation’s Versions (ESL) is a dubbed-out collection of TC remixes of tracks by artists such as The Doors, Shiva and Beloved. Meanwhile Global Underground celebrate a decade of compilations – which kicked off in 1996 with a live set from the late Tony de Vit in Israel – by releasing GU10, 65-track set mixed by a computer but featuring lots of classic anthems from down the years.
Other albums being released about now include Omar’s Sing (If You Want It) (Ether), the soul star’s first opus in five years.
It features contributions from Common, Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone. Also on the soul tip is Aloe Blacc’s Shine Through (Stones Throw), which has hip-hop hero Madlib at the controls.
My Robot Friend’s Dial O (Soma) is one of the most eagerly-anticipated dance sets of the year so far, and it doesn’t disappoint. Mercury Award winning vocalist Antony is among the guests on this lively electro-dominated affair.
Loleatta Holloway’s ‘Love Sensation’ – probably the most sampled tune ever since it first appeared spliced up on Black Box’s number one smash ‘Ride On Time’ back in 1988 – is re-released about now in new mixes from ’Say Say Say (Waiting 4 U)’ creators Hi:Tack and Seventh Heaven.
Electric Picnic co-promoter – and PoD owner – John Reynolds has sold his Spy/Wax venue at the Powerscourt Centre in Dublin, with the result that its two main clubs, Backlash and Stereotonic (both promoted by Bodytonic), have moved to Rogue on Dame Street, still running on Thursdays and Fridays respectively. Another Bodytonic club, Discotonic, is already based at Rogue on Saturdays.
The Bodytonic clubs gear up for hosting the dance arena at Electric Picnic in Stradbally from September 1 to 3 with a superb summer line-up. Guests at its various clubs include house-head Switch – currently in the Caribbean producing the new M.I.A album – at Stereotonic on June 23.
The ‘Tonic crew will, of course, be appearing at Garden Party at Ballinlough Castle, Athboy, Co Meath on June 4, alongside Groove Armada, Marky, 2 Many DJs, Nightmares on Wax and many more.
Lush! is hosting an after party for the Fatboy Slim beach party in Portrush, Co Derry on June 17, when over 15,000 clubbers are due to descend on the seaside town.
Techno club Electric Shock 3 takes over Temple Bar Music Centre on June 3 with Dr. Lektroluv, Johannes Heil and Barry Donovan among the acts appearing. Tickets are available now from Selectah Records.
There are two drum ‘n bass fuelled Remedy parties lined up for the TBMC in Dublin in June. Pendulum headlines the bank holiday bash on Sunday, June 4, while the ever-popular Hype make his annual visit on Saturday, June 24.
Another New York DJ on his way here for the bank holiday weekend is DJ Spinna, who gets his groove on with Billy Scurry at Kennedy’s in Dublin on June 4th.
Sleazy International Deejay Gigolo, David Carretta, returns to Dublin for his debut live performance at Traffic on May 25. Philadelphia’s King Britt plays GPO in Galway on May 26, warming the west up nicely for the arrival of Louie Vega of Masters at Work on June 2.
Vega is on the road promoting the superb new album, Louie Vega presents Luisito Quintero’s Percussion Madness (BBE), which celebrates the power of the drum using afrobeat, bossa nova and Latin jazz vibes. It’s an essential purchase.
Turnatablist legend DJ Qbert plays Choice Cuts at TBMC in Dublin. And finally, congratulations to Dublin club, Pogo, the Bodytonic-promoted weekly party which has just celebrated its first birthday. On May 27, D1’s Eamonn Doyle launches a new monthly residency… THE BEAT GOES ON!