Preview – Shapeshifter @ The Liquid Rooms, May 17

So, you like drum and bass, you like soul, you like reggae and you might even like rock. If you’ve mentally ticked these boxes then you might like to hear them all sequenced together in a way like no other. Shapeshifters will be blessing the Liquid Rooms with their presence this May, providing the audience with a truly eclectic mix of tunes and beats. Promoting their new single ‘One’, which is due for imminent release. It features a remix from D-Bridge, founder of D&B outfit Bad Company. Their third studio album ‘Soulstice’ reached gold status in five weeks in New Zealand, and has since gone platinum. The boys are coming off the back of winning best live act at New Zealand’s Bnet Music Awards. The kiwi five piece are hitting Europe, giving Edinburgh the Scottish exclusive. They pride themselves on their energetic live performances, and will demand an appropriate response from the crowd. Head on down, get your shoes dirty, and hear one of the most inventive and exciting acts down under.

Preview.theskinny.co.uk

Preview – ‘Noise Pollution’: Pacou, Fancy & Spook, Hektor Ruiez & RV aka Stick 430 (Blackfriars basement, Glasgow, May 31)

‘Noise pollution’ is still going strong thanks to resident Sean Matthews with a night of underground techno. Berlin born DJ Pacou will top the bill for what is set to be a night of quintessential debauchery. Pacou has been on the scene since 1996, but you might have known him as ‘Agent Cooper’. Having made friends with famous Dutch label ‘Djax-up-beats’ in the early naughties, Pacou has since concentrated his efforts on his newest project; helping to create vinyl label “Cache Records”. Starting in May 2005, three years on sees its 10th release. So far Pacou has played in more than twenty countries, and so his story will continue; “spreading the good vibe” as he says. Local guests Fancy & Spook, Hektor Ruiez & RV aka Stick 430 will join him, so there’s no danger of a waning dance floor. Simple as this – if you like techno hard and bouncing – go to ‘Noise pollution.’

Preview.theskinny.co.uk

Review – James Talk (Cabaret Voltaire, April 12)

If you’re needing somewhere to get lost: James Talk will provide the rhythms to lose yourself in. Cabaret Voltaire booked the Southampton born DJ to headline a night of tech-based madness. It’s a little unnerving to see at half past midnight, the club is only slowly getting busier. Ryan Ellis, warms up the crowd with some techno/electro based beats but there is a feeling of anticipation. There is a lot of talk about James, and the three full rooms hastily make their way to a moist dance floor at half past one. Talk provides the crowd with exactly what they’re looking for, his set crosses from some of the dirtiest electro this observer has heard in a long time to an absolutely climatic last 30 minutes (always what you want) which is progressed by the melodic nature that techno should be based around. A deafening ‘one more tune’ shout is happening at ten past and the bouncers don’t look happy. Only one thing for it – slam on two more tunes. Talk doesn’t make the schoolboy error of asking, and his set finishes twenty minutes late with a crowd of grinning faces.