Unknown Pleasures

Belfast's Champion Sound Records have got ’14 all mapped out. First order of business is that elusive producer Unknown is now going by the UNKNWN moniker. He’s also brought talented singer Gemma Dunleavy on board permanently. UNKNWN will play this year’s South By South West in Austin, Texas, and have a label showcase in-store at Brooklyn’s Rough Trade Records this coming March. Head to facebook.com/UNKNWNmusic for more.

Labelmate Ryan Vail had a stellar 2013 and, looking forward, he’s working on an original score for a BBC documentary on people who live nocturnal lives. His experience in clubland will definitely help!

As for releases, Champion Sound has an UNKNWN EP lined up for the end of February, a Ryan Vail EP for the end of March, a debut EP from Dublin band REPLETE for the end of April and a new Ghosts EP due out at the end of May. Phew, lots of good stuff!

Looking to Dublin, 2013 was an immense year for Psychonavigation and 2014 should be no different. First up is an album from legendary American techno artist, Steve Stoll. Stoll is the head honcho of underground American label Proper NYC and has worked with the likes of Patrick Codney from Front 242, Pete Namlook, Ken Ishii and Damon Wild. He’s also mixed Hardfloor and Gary Numan, to name but two. Steve’s Praxis LP is out now on Psychonavigation. It's a great demonstration of his love of modular analogue synthesisers and personalised one–off circuit designs.

Cork favourites Young Wonder saw last year’s Show Your Teeth release hit No.4 on the iTunes chart in Japan. They’re only getting warmed up. Check them out in a new vid at vimeo.com/83525068.

The Japanese Popstars are going to have another huge year. Their label Bedrock Records has wasted no time with the duo’s first release of ‘14. It’s a double A-side featuring their tracks ‘Vision’ and ‘Heavy Hitter’. On for remix duty is Sharooz, with a special remix bonus coming from Saura Records mainman Coyu, who spun a version of ‘Matter Of Time’, the lads’ track with Green Velvet. The Popstars have also just remixed S–File’s ‘Modulate’, due to drop on GND Records.

Speaking of Belfast label Bedrock Records, John Digweed has just been confirmed to play Easter Sunday in the Dublin Button Factory. We’ve also got news that Booka Shade is confirmed for a gig in Vicar St. this April, and acclaimed German techno artist tINI is set to make her Irish debut at The Twisted Pepper, courtesy of Culture Shock, this March.

Dublin night Residence has some new treats in store for the New Year. American youngster MAKJ is set to make his Dublin debut on January 31 in The Village. MAKJ just released his track ‘Mad Max’ for free. He has an Ultra collaboration with Lil Jon due in February and a track with Bassjackers out in March on Spinnin’. Residence has also lined up Nic Fanciulli and Alex Tepper for January 31 at The Button Factory.

Redbox Records has big news! Hungarian producer, Jay Lumen, will be making his Irish debut on January 25 in The Academy’s Green Rooms. Be ready for Jay, Paul Newhouse, Brisboys, Sean Kidd and Casma. Redbox has launched a new website for ‘14 and are holding a comp to celebrate. You could be in line to win a Novation Impulse 49, a Sennheiser Pro–HD 25 MK11 headphones or a Sennheiser Evolution Series 935 MIC. You gotta be in it, over at redbox-records.com, to win it.