In the first installment of Rave New World of 2015, Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty delve into very best new electronic tracks and mixes of the week, as well as various unmissable upcoming nights and releases.
Gigs
Mr. Scruff at Black Box, Belfast
Saturday, January 17
Mancunian Mr. Scruff has been DJing for over 20 years and has since built up a pretty formidable reputation for his lengthy sets of jazz, trip-hop and house. He also has his own range of tea. It’ll certainly be fun but if you fancy it you’ll have to make an effort to get a ticket since it’s sold out. Worth it though. AL
Schmutz at The Hudson Bar, Belfast
Saturday, January 17
If you haven’t got a ticket for Mr. Scruff you can head down to The Hudson instead where Belfast’s very own techno heads Schmutz will be playing some records. There’s big things lined up for the duo this year, with their Peelers EP dropping in a few weeks and the small matter of playing in Berlin’s Panorama Bar next month. It’s free in too, why not? AL
Republik present Michael Mayer at Crystal Night Club, Waterford
Saturday, January 17
Minimal techno heavyweight Michael Mayer will be showing Waterford what he can do at Crystal who seem to be pulling in the big names of late. Co-owner of the seminal Kompakt Records and the man behind Immer, which is pretty much the most highly regarded mix CD in techno, it’s one you’d be foolish to miss out on. Support on the night comes from Kenno and Warren Sauvage. AL
Hidden Agenda presents Roman Flügel at Opium Rooms, Dublin
Saturday, 17 January
Having seen Roman Flügel play just last month I can confirm that this is essential if you’re around Dublin on Saturday. The veteran’s recent musical output as a producer may be lush and minimal but he can really bang it out when necessary. Expect a masterclass in house and techno from the German who manages to add a certain groove to everything he does. Seriously, go. AL
Tracks
Hodge – X [Wisdom Teeth]
Hodge has been around for a few years but it seems he’s finally building up momentum aided by a slew of strong releases in 2014, most notably an outstanding 12” on Hotline Recordings. X, taken from an upcoming split with Acre on Wisdom Teeth has been doing the rounds in sets for the last few months with the likes of Ben UFO and Kowton being fans. It’s easy to see why – it’s shuffling, bassy and hi-hat heavy for those who like their techno a bit warped. AL
Xosar – Tales From The Tenderloin [Opal Tapes]
Queen of Darkness Sheela Rahman has a release due soon on Black Opal, the side project of Stephen Bishop’s Opal Tapes. It’s been a long time coming – Sonic Router said it was due “within a month”, and that was back in September. This gem is a rousing and floral affair, with synths and effects moving daintily about like poison ivy. AH
Creta Kano – False Water [Happy Skull]
Similarly rousing and floral, albeit in a more welcoming and uplifting sense, is this new cut on the Kelly Twins’ Happy Skull label. Bar a release on the Dutch Pinkman label in 2013 and a Twitter feed that’s a rolling YouTube playlist, there’s not much out there about this character. No mind, ‘False Water’ is a delight, broken beats and hazy washes of sun-drenched synth. I’m guessing this is a snippet (albeit a lengthy one), and I can’t wait to hear the rest of the record. AH
Lena Willikens – Howlin Lupus [Comeme]
Lena Willikens has become somewhat of a DJ’s DJ in the last few years with her formidable Sentimental Flashback radio show. She’s now venturing into production and her Phantom Delia EP should be out in a few weeks. Howlin Lupus is the taster us mortals have been provided with and its a fascination, tense techno grumbler with complete with titular howling wolf sample. Hopefully its a wider indicator as to the quality of the whole release and will be just the start of Lena’s productions that we get to hear. She is pretty good at it, after all. AL
Releases + Mixes
Blackest Ever Black – Berlin Community Radio – January 2015
It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s windy, it’s miserable – what better accompaniment can there be than the sounds of Kiran Sande‘s record box? There’s moody French folk, scuzzy noise, twisted pop and plenty of unreleased BEB material. Dive in. AH
Lnrdcroy – Much Less Normal [Firecracker]
Strictly speaking, Much Less Normal came out last year as a tape release on one of 2014’s breakthrough labels 1080p but it’s a fairly quiet time of the year for new physical releases and you shouldn’t allow yourself to let this one pass you by. Firecracker have very kindly given Lnrdcroy’s chilled-out house album a bit of a rejig before this vinyl reissue and given it a new ending in the fantastic ‘Kendal In Kalusia’ and the record subsequently feels that bit more cohesive than the original tape release did. ‘I Met You On BC Ferries’ is a standout track on a standout album in what is a currently very saturated area of electronic music. Get on it. AL
Boxed w/ Mr. Mitch & Logos – 5th January 2015
2014 was the year that Boxed got a lot of well-deserved recognition and, if this show is anything to go by, 2015 will see the London clubnight and the artists who make up its core make even more of a name for themselves. Mr. Mitch, fresh off the back of his Parallel Memories LP being named FACT’s Album of the Year, and Logos who has a brilliant LP with Mumdance forthcoming in February showcase where they want to push club music in the coming year. It’s equally as impressive in both its heavier and more delicate moments and it all makes for a very exciting time in the world of grime. AL
Protect-U: Live at U Street Music Hall (9-18-14)
It’s a study in contrasts – go party with Washington, DC’s Protect-U, recorded live last September but only just shared with us. Their releases on Future Times have shown they’ve got skills, but this set proves they’ve got the chops do to it on stage too. Bam. AH
