Off The Record

TheStart:Cuecrew have announced the lineup for their final boat party of the season – and it’s a biggun’.Headlining the shindig is Hot Creations and Cocoon heavyweightwAFF, whose booming back catalogue of techno and deep house has seen the UK-based DJ and producer held in the same regard as luminaries Loco Dice, Tania Vulcano, Martin Buttrich, Luciano and Marco Carola.He’ll be joined by localsAdam Proctor,Al Hearnshaw,Dyson,Rickstar,Ross AshmanandTommy Rutherford.The party sets sail onSaturday February 28onThe Pontoon.

The lads behind Something Else will return for their next party late in February with a double bill of big name internationals. Leading the charge is Sound Architecture resident and Belgium native Joachim Spieth, alongside the Dutchman Dave Mayer. The house and techno dons will be joined by a killer local smorgasbord of talent, including Felix Warmuth, Gabe Fernandes, Trinity, Methodix, Spike the Punch, Oscar de Lima, Pantheon, Circa 87, Nach, Dave Stuart, Phil Kanis and Belvie. Saturday February 28 over the two levels of the Burdekin Hotel.

Melbourne’s foremost house and techno producer Lewie Day aka Tornado Wallace will headline the next instalment of Picnic’s revered One Night Stand parties. Having released on the likes of Tim Sweeney’s seminal Beats in Space label and ESP Institute, the lad is also one of the brains trust behind two of Melbourne’s best parties – C Grade and Animals Dancing. His track ‘Kookaburra’ alongside Tom Moore as Coober Pedy University Band was one of the biggest jams of 2014. The bearded wonder will return for his fourth marathon set at the Oxford Art Factory on Saturday February 28. Highly recommend.

Tour rumours: Alfie Granger-Howell and Nick Harriman aka Dusky took to Facebook over the weekend to let Australian fans know that” plans are in motion for a return.” You can also expect international visits this month from the likes of ON Bast, Egbert, Deadbeat and John ‘Jammin’ Collins.

Aphex Twin fans were treated to a treasure trove last week. The inimitable producer has put 110 unreleased demos (we’re talking over eight hours of recordings) up for free download on Soundcloud under the account user48736353001. Get diggin’. This follows the release of his latest EP last week Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2 EP, just fourth months after his 2014 full-length Syro.

Best releases this week: the producer behind arguably one of the best dance albums of 2014, Vril, has backed it up with another ridiculously solid full-length title Portal (on Delsin). Other highlights includes the Bakradze/HVL/Akwaabak collaboration onRitual In Transfigured Time Vol 1(onTransfigured Time), HVL strikes again withLucky Star of High Minded(on Rough House Rosie), and Delroy Edwards is in fine form on Kickin’ Butts!!!(on LA Club Resource). Unfortunately, the Donato Dozzy record, which this column mentioned last week – and is recorded using only samples of Anna Caragnano’s voice – sounds like a half-baked Andy Stott album.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4

Caribou

Sydney Opera House

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6

Theo Parrish

Oxford Art Factory

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7

Kolombo

Chinese Laundry

DJ HMC

Burdekin Hotel

Mr. Scruff