Paranoid visions: Tunnel vision

he ever-prolific Mark O’Sullivan has just released his deep and groovy collaboration with Corrugated Tunnel, ‘Rockstars Swallow It’, on JM Recordings.
Later this month, the Cork ex-pat – who has done a superb job on the production of the upcoming Stanley Super 800 album – sees his Mark’s Prayers EP surface on Plastic City. And Mark has signed an EP to the legendary German stamp, Harthouse, which is due in May, but as with most vinyl releases these days it may surface some time later than first scheduled.
The big news from the Stockholm-based producer’s camp is that Mark and Jesper Dahlback will next month launch a series of remixes on their new DK7 imprint. ‘Killer’, which is taken from the critically acclaimed debut album, Disarmed, has been remixed Lopazz, Tommy Four Seven and DK7 themselves. The duo is currently closing in on the completion of its second album.
Belfast techno ace Phil Kieran this month releases his fourth collaboration with Scottish producer Funk d’Void on Soma Recordings. ‘Whitehead/Blackhead’ will feature on their forthcoming album. The pair are also compiling and mixing an album for the Ministry of Sound Sessions series.
Meanwhile, Felix da Housecat’s crossover label, Rude Photo, has signed Phil up for a solo album to follow the singles ‘Awe’ and ‘I Think I’m a Monster’. And you should also keep an ear out for Kieran’s ‘Triple Crown’ on Lee van Dowski’s minimal label, Num.
All of this dancefloor-related production activity is a rude awakening from a three-year studio lockdown, during which the DJ and his band Alloy Mental recorded dozens of tracks for their debut album, which should finally hit the shops in May or June.
Dublin-based house stamp Queep Recordings showcases one of the city’s emerging talents on its new release from U-Ness feat Fazee, ‘Soulmate’. Newcomer Djamel (who has a show with Will Kinsella on Radio na Life) has delivered arguably the finest mix of the six-track package. Not a bad result for your first outing.
Next up from the Queep stable, in April, is Elektro Organik’s ‘Everybody Dance (Remixes Part 2)’. Keep your ears out for the breaks vocal and instrumental mixes from another aspiring Irish talent, Man In A Room. A Queep compilation album is also in the pipeline.
There are two new EPs out now on Irish techno stamp, Invisible Agent. 2BiT’s Return To The Inbox is a five-track electro EP with a remix by Piratio. While Funky 5 is another five-tracker, all of the beats and breaks blend of midlands producer, Johnny Pluse.
Limerick superclub Trinity Rooms is gearing up for a summer residency at Ibiza club Eden (hosting the back room at Gatecrasher) by launching its own label, Trinity Rooms Recordings.
Long-serving resident DJ Paul Webb is behind the first single, ‘Hey Guy’, which is described as “a throbbing electro-house monster that will be the soundtrack to the Limerick club’s Ibiza mayhem.”
Beats & Pieces has learned that there will be no Godskitchen co-promoted dance festival taking place in Ireland this summer. Last August, more than 20,000 clubbers descended on Belvedere House in Mullingar for the first ever Hi:Fi Ireland festival, but there will be no follow-up in 2007. Two English Hi:Fi events in 2006 failed to attract the required numbers and the brand has been shelved, at least temporarily.
Rumours that Godskitchen’s other festival brand, Global Gathering, would be launching in Belvedere in August have proliferated in Irish clubland for several months. However, a key industry insider has told this column that “there will definitely be no Godskitchen festival in Ireland this summer. And there are no events planned for the Point Theatre either.” The British club is now concentrating its Irish efforts on its new bank holiday Sunday residency at The Vaults in Dublin. The second such event takes place on Easter Sunday and features flamboyant Japanese DJ, Yoji Biomehanika.
Festival lovers will of course be thrilled to learn that Planet Love 2007 is going ahead in Shane’s Castle in Antrim in September. And the Electric Picnic 2007 line-up is due to be unveiled later this month. Another outdoor event taking place is the second annual Beach Party in Portrush, Co Derry, which launched in 2006 when 15,000 people turned up to see Fatboy Slim and a supporting cast. This year, the Pet Shop Boys are on headline duty.
This year’s Beach Party will take place on Saturday June 30. Tickets are now on sale from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. Full details on www.thebeachparty.co.uk. Remedy hosts a drum ‘n’ bass extravaganza at TBMC on April 21. The hugely-popular DJ Hype is flanked MC Daddy Earl and Beckett, and tickets will cost you a mere e22.50. Horan’s in Tralee, Co Kerry welcomes Underwater Records founder Darren Emerson on Easter Sunday.
Psychonavigation Records serves up an exclusive Irish performance from legendary Krautrocker, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, on April 1 at The Sugar Club in Dublin. Tickets cost e15 from www.tickets.ie and support comes from Electric Penguins and Keith Downey.
Waterford clubbing collective RE:Publik takes over the city’s Stage 2 Bar on March 30 with one of Europe’s most in demand DJ/producers, Ame, the man behind the huge 2006 single ‘Rej’.
Promoter Brian Spollen recently parted company with Dublin club Spirit after steering it through its most successful period. The man behind club nights such as Ed Bangers is enjoying his new executive role in event management at MCD, and wishes the Abbey Street club well for the future.
And finally, congratulations to Jay Kay, resident DJ at after-hours Belfast club Yello. The spinner – dubbed Glamour Boy – was recently voted Northern Ireland’s Best Club DJ at the prestigious Fate Magazine Awards … THE BEAT GOES ON!