It’s early in the year, but Cork’s Corrugated Tunnel may have pocketed the accolade for ‘Best Irish Dance Record of 2011’. ‘Transist’, the emotional closer on last year’s acclaimed Minor Obsessions, is getting released on Process Records in April, backed with three excellent remixes from top Irish producers Donnacha Costello, Chymera and Sweden-based Dubliner Mark O’Sullivan (DK7). Corrugated Tunnel has also popped up on the remix of another Process gem, Djamel’s ‘Voyeurism In High Definition’. It's out at the end of this month. Check him out at www.corrugatedtunnel.org.

Donnacha Costello’s original label, D1 Records, returns with a new release and a launch on March 5 at Twisted Pepper, Dublin. The influential imprint, set up in 1994, is putting out the latest Automatic Tasty EP, Notes From The Underground. The launch will feature a live set from the band supported by a DJ set from D1 founder Eamonn Doyle.
Also appearing on the clubbing landscape in 1994 was The Blue Note in Galway city’s west end. The crew celebrate the occasion with ‘17 And Never Been Pissed’, a weekend anniversary bash from February 25 to 27 featuring familiar faces behind the decks, including The Disconauts, Cyril ‘Disko’ Briscoe and Northern Soul fanatic Mullers. Drink is at 1994 prices all night. Cyril will also get together with his long time DJ partner Cian O Ciobhain for another 110th Street session in Monroes, Galway on March 10. Meanwhile Cian is releasing An Taobh Thuthail 4, the latest compilation of his Raidio NaGaeltacht Anocht show, as a free podcast this month. For more details, see www.rte.ie/rnag/att4.
Celebrating 20 years in dance music is Detroit legend Carl Craig’s Planet E label. The classic imprint has recently been home to Belfast’s Psycatron and they are joining in the festivities with a special night in Berghain, Berlin on March 4, alongside Kenny Larkin, Paul Woolford and the great man himself. This will be followed up with two releases in the summer on the label of another Berlin techno institution, Tresor. www.myspace.com/psycatron for more details.
From the heroes of the genre to the Irish nu-skool, with Carlow’s Electro Shokk making one of their sporadic appearances on the county’s club landscape on February 26 in Gullys Bar. The night’s headliner is new kid on the block Luke Creed, who is making waves on the national and international scene with his label Gobsmacked Records.
One of the consistent leading lights in Dublin clubbing, Al Keegan, is taking time out from his busy DJ, producing and label-running schedule to start a new night in Dublin’s Copper Alley. Mongo promises the techier end of house on the last Friday of every month, with more details at [email protected]. Meanwhile Dublin promoter David De Valera is now getting attention for his productions, particularly his remix on Link Records of Berny’s ‘Shphlatten’ (a Richie Hawtin favourite) and his recent EP The Punks Don’t Run on Club 66 Records. For more on Dave, check www.facebook/pages/dave-de-valera.
Irish Moss Records is the new venture from party breaks duo Dirty Dubsters. “The name comes from the famous Jamaican organic drink,” says band member O.B. “And we thought it would be perfect to sum up what we’re doing. We are taking pure reggae with original international reggae vocalists and putting modern breaks and uptempo remixes from ourselves and other Irish and UK artists on the B-side, in a roots ‘n future way.” The label launches Friday 25 at Twisted Pepper with a live performance from reggae diva Whandah The Dainty Queen.