Off The Record

DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist will bring their vinyl-only Renegades of Rhythm tour to Australia next March. The incredible show, which debuted in the USA last month, sees the two going head-to-head and playing cuts that are exclusively taken from Afrika Bambaataa’s epic record collection (we’re talking 40,000+) on six turntables. So far the only Australian date announced has been as part of Victoria’s Golden Plains festival lineup, but sources tell me that a Sydney date will be announced this Friday October 24.

Also announced for Golden Plains was the return of Detroit don (and one of my all-time personal favourites) Theo Parrish. He’ll also be coming to Sydney, but don’t expect that date to be announced for a little while longer.

Laura Jones and Gavin Herlihy are locking horns for an Australian tour. Jones is best known for her deep techno sets and productions (which have seen her play at Richie Hawtin’s Enter nights in Ibiza and the UK’s Warehouse Project), while Herlihy’s chameleonic house and techno talents have seen him release on seminal labels such as Cocoon, Cadenza and Buzzing Fly. They’ll hit S.A.S.H on Sunday November 23.

One of the most in-demand DJs in the game, Prosumer has locked in a Sydney date early next month. Best known as a former resident of the legendary Panorama Bar, he recently relocated to Edinburgh and over the course of his career he’s released records on labels such as Potion, OstGut Ton, Playhouse and Running Back and collaborated with the likes of Murat Tepeli and Tama Sumo. He’ll play an open-air show on Sunday November 9 (kicking off at 2pm) at Vic On The Park Hotel. Oh, and best of all? It’s free.

Thought all of the tours for the NYE/NYD period had been announced? Think again. A little birdie tells me we’ve still got quite a few internationals making the trek Down Under, including Ibiza legend and Balearic beat father DJ Alfredo, the don behind DC-based label Future Times Maxmillion Dunbar, Vancouver’s finest Pender Street Steppers and Glasgow native Scott Fraser. Dates coming soon.

Best releases this week: I’d been hanging for AnD’sCosmic Microwave Background (on Electric Deluxe) for yonks and hoooooboy it did not disappoint. Other stand-outs include Objekt’sFlatland (on Pan), S Olbricht’s A Place Called Ballacid (on Lobster Theremin), DJ Route 8’s Cruising (also on Lobster Theremin) and Edward’s Into A Better Future (on Giegling).

Sad news: Mark Bell of LFO passed away last week. The news was confirmed via the Warp Records website, with a statement that read: “It’s with great sadness that we announce the untimely passing of Mark Bell of LFO who died last week from complications after an operation.” In addition to his work with Gez Varley in LFO Bell was a long-time collaborator with BjЪrk and produced six of her LPs (including 1997’s Homogenic and 2011’s Biophilia). Rest in peace.

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