While the release of Agnelli & Nelson’s ‘Holding Onto Nothing’ has again been postponed, the single continues to build up a head of steam, sitting at No1 on the MTV Dancefloor Chart as I write. It was also a recent BBC Radio 1FM Record Of The Week… Tripoli Trax releases its 100th single this month, a re-issue of the classic 1991 Diss-cuss remix of Zero B’s ‘Lock Up’ by Malcolm Duffy of Trade coupled with the 2003 mix by Andy Farley and Prime Mover… Tom Middleton (aka Cosmos) is recording a new track with one of the greatest guitarists of the 20th century, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, and one of the most copied hairstyles of the ’80s, Robert Smith from The Cure. Smith, of course, provided vocals on a recent Junior Jack single…
On the compilations front this fortnight, the big attraction is Brazilian Beats 5 on Mr Bongo, which features Tejo, Black Alien & Speed’s ‘Quem Que Cagueto’, best known as the soundtrack to the recent Nissan X-Trail advert. The album also features Stereo Maracana, a Brazilian hip-hop crew which plays at the roughest funk parties in the favelas of Rio that were featured in the incredible movie City Of God. Also worth checking are Mastercuts Chilled (with Sly & Robbie and Justin Robertson on Mastercuts) and the deep house mix-up, L’Apericlub’s Saturday Night Sessions on Beechwood.
Jungle Republic returns to Valentia Island this weekend (March 12, 13 and 14). The Royal Hotel in Knightstown on Valentia Island, off the coast of Kerry, will be transformed into a junglists’ heaven by Bassbin and Phase 2. The breakbeat session commences at 9pm on Friday and continues until the early hours of Sunday morning. All of the leading Irish breakbeat crews are present and correct – Bassbin, Phase 2, Step, Nu Killa Cru and Strontium Dogs – and DJs like Rohan and Naphta will be flanked by top MCs, Wuzza and The Criminal. Weekend tickets must be purchased in advance, and you can get all the details from www.irishdrum andbass.com
At Traffic in Dublin on June 11, D1 will host none other than Laurent Garnier at its Model One club. With the expected high demand to see Garnier in such an intimate environment – the club holds between 250 and 300 – this party will only be open to D1 members. Incidentally Detroit’s Robert Hood plays Model One on March 26… Meanwhile, rumours persist that Godskitchen Global Gathering will take place at either Stradbally (outside Portlaoise) or Punchestown (in Kildare) on August 21. Watch this space…
Clubland legend Josh Wink – responsible for seminal ’90s anthems like ‘Higher State of Consciousness’ and ‘I Am Ready’ – makes an ultra-rare Irish appearance at Club One in Cork on March 16… Ninja Tunes’ ambient maestro Mixmaster Morris plays The Sugar Club in Dublin on March 20. Incidentally, Blockhead’s incredible debut album on Ninja Tune, Music By Cavelight, is out on March 29. The downtown New Yorker comes through with some of the most sublime, understated, melancholic hip-hop you’re likely to hear this year… Washington’s finest, Deep Dish play Redbox on March 16… Jeremy Healy plays the Earl Of Desmond in Tralee with Joe O’Connor on March 20…
Old skool mayhem returns to Redbox tomorrow (March 12), with yours truly and Pat Hyland among those reliving the glory days of the ’90s… Party animal Jon Carter plays Spirit in Dublin on Sunday (14)… Wu Tang Clan fans in Ireland are set for treat on St Patrick’s Day, when their massively acclaimed rapper and producer Raekwon ‘The Chef’ brings his acclaimed four-man rap show to Redbox in Dublin for their Irish debut. Support from Ireland’s World Scratching Champion DJ Flip and newcomer DJ Beware… Will Holland’s acclaimed 11-piece funk ensemble, Quantic Soul Orchestra, plays The Village in Dublin on March 26. The event will be followed by a Choice Cuts party at Ri-Ra featuring Puma Strut… And finally, acclaimed Irish spinner Arveene headlines at The Shelter in Dublin this Saturday (13), and don’t forget Godskitchen is at the Point Theatre the same night… THE BEAT GOES ON!