One of our favourite Irish acts at the minute – and arguably the jewel in Belfast imprint Champion Sound’s crown – Dublin’s Contour has returned with ‘Rearrange & Realign’, a six-minute track bursting with the pair’s increasingly distinctive brand of electro-pop. Taken from their forthcoming second EP, the brilliantly titled Blessed With Weird Things, you can stream it below now via the Champion Sound Soundcloud page.
With the recent announcement that his previous outfit UNKNWN are no more, Belfast-based electronic producer Chris Hanna has wasted no time in getting back on his feet. Released under his new moniker, OneKnown, ‘JST BKZ’ is sweet cut of skittering, arpeggiated instrumentalism, conjuring the shadowy electro doom of Lorn. OneKnown is part of Belfast-based electronic imprint Champion Sound, who hold a showcase at Belfast’s Menagerie on November 15 (also featuring a DJ set from Hanna). Stream ‘JST BKZ’ below. Why? JST BKZ. Sorry.
Having performed at The Great Escape festival last week, electronic duo Chris Hanna and Gemma Dunleavy AKA UNKNWN have released a stream of a transfixing new track, ‘BBY’. The first track to be taken from the double A sided Devil/BBY, the release is available in a limited run of 300 hand stamped 140g blue vinyl which can be ordered here via Champion Sound. Stream ‘BBY’ via Soundcloud below.
One of our Acts to Watch in 2014, Kilkenny electronic producer Pete Lawlor AKA Replete is streaming ‘Hold Me’, the first track to be taken from his forthcoming EP of the same name. An unwinding, near six-minute slab of throwback techno house, the track is Lawlor’s first release via Belfast’s Champion Sound Music, who will put out the aforementioned EP on March 4. Stream ‘Hold Me’ via Soundcloud below.
Our gig of the week this week is set to be an outright highlight of this year’s CultureTECH in Derry/Londonderry: a showcase by Belfast-based label Champion Sound at the most excellent Sandinos on Friday September 13 featuring performances two of the label’s most exciting names. Fast-rising Derry electronic artist Ryan Vail (above) and decidedly anonymous producer Unknown lead the way on the night. Visuals coming courtesy of award-winning Belfast collective DSNT, the labels bosses of both Planet Mu (Tom Quaye) and Champion Sound (Lyndon Stephens) will also perform DJ sets on the night Tickets are five pound at the door. Check out ‘Fade’ by Ryan Vail below.
One of the more enticing prospects of this year’s CultureTECH in Derry, Belfast-based label Champion Sound will hold a showcase at the wonderfully inimitable Sandinos on Friday September 13. The line-up is comprised of two of the label’s most exciting names: fast-rising Derry electronic artist Ryan Vail and decidedly anonymous producer Unknown (above – sort of). With visuals coming courtesy of award-winning Belfast collective DSNT, the labels bosses of both Planet Mu (Tom Quaye) and Champion Sound (Lyndon Stephens) will also perform DJ sets. Tickets are five pound at the door.