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MARC KINCHEN
CYNT @ Solus, Cardiff Fri 7 June An all-star cast of names are lined up for CYNT’ s end of term party, including( in the main room) George Fitzgerald, Flashmob, Cyril Hahn and Zed Bias. But at the top of the flyer is Marc‘ MK’ Kinchen, Defected top boy and veteran producer of tracks including Nightcrawlers’ Push The Feeling On. This is his first time to Wales, although he has been doing some geographical homework.“ My manager keeps telling me to look for the train station with the really long name,” says Marc,“ and for something called Port Marion or Merrian? She said a famous TV show was filmed there. I have heard it is a very special place. Will I understand what people are saying?” Hopefully the punters’ enthusiasm for MK’ s output will suffice, although we are more likely to hear forward-thinking house rather than what has gone before.“ I don’ t play Push The Feeling that often,” explains Marc,“ but sometimes I’ ll tease a riff or two. Other tunes are still fresh to me since I never played them out before. Most of my set is newer stuff anyway, with a few older tunes drizzled in here and there. It’ s 99 % my music in the set though, either my originals or my remixes, and of course, a cool Jamie Jones, Lee Foss or Disclosure joint could pop up at any time.” Tickets: £ 17. Info: 029 2078 1458( RH)
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DJ BANANAMAN
Nemesis @ The Underground, Swansea Sat 8 June I can’ t remember the last time we featured a club night on this page that was free entry, but this one is and should be awarded two thumbs up as such, especially given that the special guest among the line-up of relative newcomers is returning 90s hardcore producer, DJ Bananaman, also known to his mates as Darren Heavey.“ I guess you could say I’ m having a comeback,” says Darren.“ I’ m loving what’ s going on within the scene at the moment and still think I have something to add to it. There is so much talent out there that needs to be heard, for example Gisbo, Defekt, Flawless and Stu Infinity to name a few. I’ m loving what Frackus and Darwin are doing and me old mate Demo is back and smashing up the hardcore breakbeat scene, so good times ahead.” Despite going off the hardcore scene for many years, he kept his hand in with some pretty well established remixing for mainstream acts.“ I did a lot of remixes for people like Robbie Williams, Liberty X and Gorillaz,” explains Darren.“ I also dabbled in other genres, especially trance where I did remixes for Dejure, Dumonde and Jam And Spoon on Dave Pearce’ s label, Nu Life. I was also signed to major label Arista which was a part of BMG. But I think that’ s enough info for now!” Admission: free. Info: 07980 448660( RH)
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MARQUIS HAWKES
City Bass @ Undertone, Cardiff Sat 8 June“ Mainly underground, left of centre sounds with a certain rawness,” City Bass co-promoter Ben assures us,“ I think is the best description of our music policy. Quality music, good vibes and lots of lovely people losing their shit on the dancefloor.” Since 2010 the night has been pioneering a blend of bass, garage, deep house and techno, and this event welcomes Glasgow’ s Dixon Avenue Basement Jams regular Marquis Hawkes.“ He’ s someone on the rise who’ s really caught our ear over the last few months,” explains Ben,“ with two really interesting, raw EPs on Dixon Avenue Basement Jams. It’ s essential that we always make sure we check people’ s credentials before booking them, and the mixes we’ ve heard from Marquis are right up our street, so I think his sound, style and selection is a perfect fit for us.” Also on the line-up is Darren Stewart and the ever-reliable City Bass DJs, who complete the night’ s vibe.“ I would describe them as lovely human beings with amazing record collections,” says Ben.“ They are some of my favourite DJs to hear play, with a slight propensity for deviancy. I also have to give a special mention to the first release on our record label, YCO Records: Blured – It’ s Quite, and the Luv Jam Remix. The label and remix wouldn’ t have happened without City Bass.” Admission: £ 8 /£ 6 before 12. Info: 029 2022 8883( RH)
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THE ORB
The Globe, Cardiff Thurs 27 June Amorphous ambient techno legends The Orb, in their their 25th year, play Cardiff as a warm-up for their Glastonbury set that weekend. Initially formed by Alex Paterson and The KLF’ s Jimmy Cauty in 1988, The Orb have gone through myriad lineup changes and collaborations in the years hence. Recent guests include wild man of reggae Lee‘ Scratch’ Perry on last year’ s The Orbserver In The Starhouse and Pink Floyd’ s Dave Gilmour on 2010’ s Metallic Spheres. The latter-day Orb sound maintains contact with its euphoric roots; 1988’ s acid house explosion and the laidback dub weirdness they added to the mix. However, you’ re as likely to hear drum’ n’ bass and dubstep influences cropping up in their newer work. Their trademark styles – vaguely sinister vocal overdubs, cosmic synths nodding to wizardy prog rock – will no doubt be in abundance, too. This is a live set, but you’ ll be able to cut a rug. Orb shows tend to pull out all the visual stops, too, the infamous hallucinogenic aesthetics delivered with a very British kind of humour. It’ s been said, and not just because of the Gilmour guest spot or even the Animals-parodying cover of their Live‘ 93 album, that The Orb’ s brand of audiovisual stimulation is the finest example of‘ Floydism’ available in this age. It should make for the perfect evening of surrealism and inebriation. Tickets: £ 15. Info: theglobevenue @ gmail. com( MCH)
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