Aidan Hanratty delivers the lowdown on all the very best electronic gigs, tracks, mixes and releases of the week.
Antóin is off at the fabled Freerotation weekender in Wales, but despite the Twitter buzz it’s not the only place to be seen this weekend. There’s a rake of stuff happening, even into next week, so don’t feel like you’re missing out too much.
Subject – DJ QU at Pacino’s
Friday 10 July 2015
House mainstay DJ QU brings his stately presence to Pacino’s, while a host of local talent is set to play at this three-room affair.
Lubomyr Melnyk with Otto A Totland at Pavilion Theatre
Friday 10 July 2015
London-based avant garde label Erased Tapes have been pushing elegant sounds with acts like Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm, A Winged Victory For The Sullen and so forth, as well as reaching out to pioneer Lubomyr Melnyk. Both the fastest pianist in history and a visionary of continuous music, he’s a true artist as important to the classical and experimental worlds.
Pyg presents Ewan Pearson at Pygmalion
Saturday 11 July 2015
Another pioneer of sorts, Ewan Pearson has managed to stay peerless as both a DJ and producer, with crisp, powerful house and techno always at his fingertips. Always a solid bet behind the decks, a Pearson set is truly a masterclass.
Bap To The Future with New Jackson & Barry Redsetta at Electric Garden & Theatre
Thursday 16 July 2015
Major Problems go on tour! David Kitt brings his New Jackson setup to Galway, with label boss Barry Redsetta, a stunning DJ in his own right, coming along for the ride.
MIXES
Hoppa – PODCAST 001 // Jin Mustafa
This is a pretty deeeeeeeeeeep mix, solid, rolling techno vibes only. It comes from Swedish DJ Jin Mustafa, who I’ve not come across before but will be watching closely henceforth.
The Bunker Podcast 99 – The Black Madonna
No brainer this. The Black Madonna played The Bunker on Pride weekend, and it’s ridiculously fun, full of classics – there’s a lengthy acid section, then she goes full disco, prompting me to go down a Loleatta Holloway/Dan Hartman wormhole yesterday afternoon. She closes with a suitably epic Audion/MLK fusion that I’m sure would literally blow minds.
Happy Skull – AIR MIX 001: The Kelly Twins
HUGE mix full of bangers from Bristol’s The Kelly Twins, the lads behind the Happy Skull label. They’ve been responsible for some huge releases in the past few months, particularly from Creta Kano and Andreas Gehm / Elec Pt1.
And if all that’s not enough, check out Freero 2014 sets from Objekt, Surgeon, Juju & Jordash, Magic Mountain High, Esther Duijn, and Leah Floyeurs.
TRACKS
Tzusing – King Of System
Minimal Wave presents an absolutely monstrous tune from Tzusing, a Chinese producer who’s previously released on LIES. It’s as an ominous banger, full of dark electroniics and mechanical menace. Check this recent Digital Tsunami mix for more.
Malory – Dah
This is off a compilation from a few months back called GODMODE presents AMERICAN MUSIC. I like this track a lot, it’s simple and it’s built around this simple sample that goes, well, DAH. It’s got some floating, rolling percussion and (deliberately) basic and primal synth work. It gives me the urge to jack.
Ekman – Rook
It seems that Will Bankhead, the man behind The Trilogy Tapes, never sleeps. Just recently he was beset by some water damage, which would put a stop to most people’s efforts, but he’s put out like three records since then. This is one of them, from Ekman, and this track is the highlight for me. Searingly amazing buzzsaw synths and relentless fuzzy claps. Insanely good. Check out the Slack DJs too!
