Belfast’s Phil Kieran may look like he’s had a quiet year, but the reality is he’s worked harder than ever, and his band Alloy Mental has been tipped for major crossover success in 2006.
“Because I’ve put my art first, I have ended up skint,” Kieran revealed to hotpress. “I decided a couple of years ago I didn’t want to end up a dance producer who knocks out samey productions just for the money. So I started the band Alloy Mental, and that’s where most of my energies have been spent this year. The three of us have been focused on making our album, and we’ve put a lot of time and effort into it.”
The band has certainly been productive, having written and recorded more than 30 songs. “I feel we could go on to do loads more just because we’re really passionate about doing all we can to come up with something original and really amazing,” says Kieran. “We’ve also been working on a live set for next year, and will showcase it this Christmas at David Holmes’ club night in Belfast. The playing live aspect is really important, and we’re lucky to have got a frontman who is like a deranged Iggy Pop.”
Being in a band has brought the occasional organisational headache however, admits Kieran. “I’ve been DJing every weekend all over Europe, and it’s bizarre but in the second half of the year I’ve had a horrific time with logistics,” he says. “I’ve missed my fair share of connecting flights through no fault of my own, and then had a date cancelled because the governor of Athens' son allegedly took an overdose in a club the week before I was due to play there. And I’ve been refused permission to board a flight in Gatwick, because my photo was falling off the page in my passport.”
His solo work has also had to take a back seat. “Because I was so focused on the Alloy Mental album (which will be released on Skint/Sony), it was towards the end of the year by the time I got around to getting some new Phil Kieran tunes out,” he says. “I’m doing the third release for Felix da Housecat’s label with Doug McCarthy from Nitzer Ebb, and I’ve got singles out on Shine and Tronik.”
Currently, he’s working on a Marco Bailey remix and has a number of other tunes in his locker, awaiting release.
Kieran believes the past 12 months have been outstanding for techno: “2005 has seen dance music get really exciting again. Adam Beyer and Jesper Dahlback have done some excellent work, and there’s been loads of good German stuff, minimal stuff and more synth-based electronic music, all of which I love.”
One trend of 2005 has been a shift away from CDs and towards vinyl. “I’m still playing mostly vinyl, but I can understand why so many DJs have gone the CD route. CDs are good if the sound system in a club is shit, but if the set-up is right vinyl sounds better. I prefer mixing with records.”
Meanwhile, on the more mainstream front, Dublin DJ Papillion is also reluctant to make the switch to digital DJing.
“I teach DJing,” she explained to hotpress at the end of a year that saw her DJ in Barcelona and Ibiza, “but I am encouraging my pupils to look for other ways of making their DJ sets stand out.
“I incorporate a lot of flute-playing into my sets, and would encourage anyone starting out to explore all the ways that they can push the boundaries in order to get noticed.
“In 2006 my biggest ambition is making music. I’ve made some meditation music but now I want to make a big club tune.
“I’ll be working with Donegal DJs, Timmy and Tommy, who are really talented producers. I want to come up with a club track that will be played on the radio.”
Here’s hoping that both Phil and Papillion are bedfellows on the airwaves in 2006.
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Dance charts 2005
Singles
1. LCD Soundsystem: 'Tribulations' [DFA/EMI]
2. DK7: 'Where's The Fun' [Output]
3. Ada: 'Maps' [Michael Mayer/Tobias Thomas remix] [Areal]
4. Inertia: 'The Chamber' [Discover]
5. Dinky: 'Acid In My Fridge' [Cocoon]
6. Ame: 'Rej' [Sonar Kollektiv]
7. 2000 And One: 'Esperada' [100% Pure]
8. Jupiter Ace: '1000 Years' [Manifesto]
9. Ellen Alien: 'Magma' [MFA remix] [Bpitch]
10. Alden Tyrell: 'Disco Lunar Module' [Clone]
11. Splitloop: 'On My Mind' [Supercharged]
12. Recloose: 'Dust' [Peacefrog]
13. Swayzak: 'Snowblind' [Matthew Jonson remix] [K7]
14. Beta 2: 'Crystal Meth' [Metalheadz]
15. Fishgodeep: 'The Cure And The Cause' [Go Deep]
16. Agnelli & Nelson: 'Shiver' [Xtravaganza]
17. Yer Man: 'Weird Therapy' [Umm]
18. Lindstrom: 'I Feel Space' [Feedelity]
19. Misc: Talking Ghosts EP [Sender]
20. Electroheadz: 'Out Of Asia' [Kickin]
21. Konrad Black: 'Draconia' [Wagon Repair]
22. Argy: 'Love Dose' (Luciano Remix) [Poker Flat]
23. Various Artists: 'Box Jams 1' [Clone]
24. Edwin James: 'High Rise' [Seedyr]
25. Mr Cisco: Life Is Life EP [Klakson]
26. Alex Smoke: 'Dont See The Point' [Soma]
27. Booka Shade: Mandarine EP [Get Physical]
28. John Tejada & Justin Maxwell: 'Infected' [Palette Recordings]
29. Mark & John: 'Most Dangerous Animal In The Zoo' [Audiomatique]
30. C64: 'On A Good Thing' [Manifesto]
Albums
1. Mia: Arular [XL]
2. Vitalic: OK Cowboy [Pias]
3. Isolee: We Are Monster [Playhouse]
4. Alex Smoke: Incommunicado [Soma]
5. Boards Of Canada: The Campfire Headphase [Warp]
6. Fishgodeep Feat Tracey K: Lil’ Hand [Ultrasound]
7. Mandy: Body Language [Get Physical]
8. Speedy J/Chris Liebing: Metalism [Novamute]
9. Ellen Alien: Thrills [Bpitch]
10. Hystereo: Corporate Crimewave [Soma]
11. Roots Manuva: Awfully Deep [Big Dada]
12. Splitloop: Here On Business [Supercharged]
13. Lawrence: The Night Will Last Forever [Novamute]
14. Pier Bucci: Familia [Crosstown Rebels]
15. Peter Grummich: Switch Off The Soap Opera [Shitkatapult]
16. Lindstrom & Prins Thomas: Lindstrom & Prins Thomas [Eskimo]
17. Dk7: Disarmed [Output]
18. Chelonis Jones: Dislocated Genius [Get Physical]
19. Richie Hawtin: De9
20. Deep Dish: George Is On [Sony BMG]
21. Jackson And His Computer Band: Smash [Warp]
22. Diplo: Fabric Live [Fabric]
23. Royskopp: The Understanding [Wall Of Sound]
24. Various: Famous When Dead IV [Playhouse]
25. Minotaur Shock: Maritime [4AD]
26. Thievery Corporation: The Cosmic Game [ESL]
27. Valentino Kanzyani: Intecnique [Intec]
28. Cane 141: Moonpool [Exceptional]
29. Coldcut: The Welcome Table [Ninja Tune]
30. Autamata: Short Stories [Autamata]