The bright future of Irish electronic music

Irish labels have been keeping busy. There are new releases on the way from All City, Psychonavigation and Octopus Recordings. The festival calendar is heating up, too, with a string of high-profile announcements for both Forbidden Fruit and Life Festival.

All City Records have a new vinyl release on the way with Italian producer Herva. He's fresh off the back of an LP with Delsin Records. For those of you who still buy records, they have a shop in Temple Bar House, Dublin, featuring techno and hip hop. all-cityrecords.com
Waves On Canvas released his debut album on Irish label Psychonavigation Records on February 23. Italian composer Stefano Guzzetti is the man behind the project. It features collaborations with Ian Masters (Pale Saints) and Pieter Nooten (Xymox). The album will be released on Double Wallet CD.
Psychonavigation also have an EP out with American artist Steve Stoll who's the label boss of Proper NYC, which he founded in 1994. The modular synth enthusiast has collaborated with Patrick Codney, Pete Namlock, Ken Ishii and Damon Wild. He has also remixed Gary Numan. This release is well worth checking out. More information is available at psychonavigation.bandcamp.com
Sian’s Octopus Records are releasing an EP from Barbuto on April 6. The Australian-born producer is based in Austin, Texas where he is a resident at the famous Kingdom club.
In festival news, the summer bills are “heating up” already. For the first time Forbidden Fruit and Life Festival have landed on the same weekend. The former has announced Richie Hawtin, Matador, Booka Shade and Damien Lazarus alongside the likes of Ancient Moons, Groove Armada and Jamie XX.
The latter celebrates its 10th birthday this year. Rap legend Nas will perform Illmatic, and Ben Klock, Maceo Plex, Ten Walls, Kolsch and Pantha Du Prince have all been added to the line-up.
It’s a busy time for clubbers too. In Dublin on February 20, Abstract welcome Montreal native Clarian to the Opium Rooms. He first emerged in 2011 with his Footprintz Utopia EP, which brought critical acclaim and featured on various year-end music charts, including DJ mag's. He is responsible for A&R at Seth Troxler’s Soft Touch imprint. His mini LP for Visionquest in 2013 brought more success. Support comes from Chymera and The Drifter. Elsewhere, Dutch duo Weval from Kompakt Records are playing in Pygmalion the same night.
On February 21 Kerri Chandler visits District 8, while Hidden Agenda have Black Coffee and Bill Brewster in Opium Rooms. The Building Society have Benjamin Damage & Frank B in Hangar. Down in Galway, Epoch present John Heckle, Mark Forshaw and Binny at the Electric Garden and Theatre. Re:Publik have The Drifter and Chymera in Crystal Nightclub.
In Dublin on February 27, Free Techno is back in the Hub, Temple Bar, where Vision Collector’s RSCH 14 will be delivering a three-hour set. Melodic have Alex Niggemann in the Grand Social, and Tom Trago is playing in Opium Rooms. Meanwhile, Alle Farben is in the Twisted Pepper and David Squillace is in the Button Factory.
On February 28, Berlin-based Ray Okpara of Mobilee Records is playing with Division in Pygmalion, and A Guy Called Gerald plays the Twisted Pepper. Hidden Agenda have midnight magic in Opium Rooms.
Club Sessions have the East End Dubs in the Basement Bar in Waterford, and Process are hosting Joefarr in Cyprus Avenue in Cork. Finally, Pulse welcome Giles Armstrong to Brandons, Ennis.