This interview was recorded in Rua Red as part of a project I worked on with Al in 2018.

I got commissioned to make a work about Tallaght and Al was the first person I approached to collaborate with. Having both grown up there I thought he would be the perfect person to work on the sound design. Considering we both hadn't lived in Tallaght for years we wanted to look back on what it was like to grow up there during a certain period of time and see how it has influenced who we are. Although Al had never worked on the sound design for an art work before I knew he'd do an amazing job and I was blown away by the end product that he produced.

As part of the project, I interviewed a number of locals who'd gone onto do some great things, with Al being one of them. In this interview he talked about his early inspirations, the club nights he ran, how his music style changed throughout the years and the sense of community which developed through his nights. I have included some of the music which he talks about along with some of the tracks that he used to play. I've also included one of his own remixes and a release on his own Aciitone record label.

Al's club nights were like no other, there was an amazing atmosphere and a great sense of community and he made sure everyone felt part of that, which was something special. His sets at Acii Disco were exceptional and had an energy and vibe like no other, he was the best DJ and promoter in Dublin who brought so much joy and happiness to people. As a person he was warm, generous, caring and funny, he always had time and sound advice for people. He was a visionary and a natural leader with wisdom beyond his years, and I feel very honoured and proud to have worked with Al and to have had him as a friend, he really was one of a kind.

It's a pleasure to be able to share some of his memories in his own words.

00:00 - 04:33:  Michael Lovatt - Third Bass (Al Keegan Remix) (My Own Beat Records)
04:33 - 05:47: Al, Early memories of Tallaght, 4th Year and Kiss FM
05:47 - 08:35:  Mory Kante - Yeke Yeke (Hardfloor Remix) (FFRR)
08:35 - 09:42:  Al, Art class and musical inspiration from art teacher
09:42 - 15:44:  Lemon Jelly - A Tune for Jack (XL Recordings)
15:44 - 18:53:  Al, DJing at the Tivoli, first night he ran in Viva, and setting up 1210
18:53 - 21:06:  Junior Jack - Thrill Me (VC Recordings)
21:06 - 22:45:  Al, 1210 in The Legal Eagle
22:45 - 25:45: Harry ‘Choo Choo’ Romero - Tania (Bambossa Records)
25:45 - 27:57:  Al, the end of 1210 and his style of music changing
27:57 - 32:03:  Blaze feat. Palmer Brown - My Beat (Ambassador Remix) (Kickin Records)
32:03 - 34:54:  Al, Abby Discs, Dublin club nights, minimal and darker music
34:54 - 38:03:  Gabriel Ananda - Doppelwhipper (Truesoul)
38:03 - 41:25:  Al, beginnings of Acii Disco, clown story
41:25 - 44:20:  Jon Virtue - Breadsnapper (Abe Duque Remix) (Aciitone)
44:20 - 47:02:  Al, Acii Disco moves to The Hub, McGruders and other Dublin club nights
47:02 - 51:16:  Lil Mo’ Yin Yang - Reach (Strictly Rhythm)
51:16 - 53:41:  Al, Acii Disco community
53:41-1:00:48:  Duoteque - Adyra (Boxer Recordings)



In memory of Al, we are raising money for two charities, Shannon’s Hopeline and Pieta House, of which Al was a great supporter. All donations are more than welcome, please see the link below.

https://gofund.me/a94e1cc5

It's No Party Without People: An Interview with Al Keegan

Play Pal present the fifth instalment of their 'Pals' compilation, featuring talent from across the globe. Volume 5 includes music from the likes of Aural Trace, M Love, Mufti, Marzian, Flvn, Leo af Ekenstam, Montessori, Stockholm Syndrome & Lusca, Cabizbajo & Colossio and Manner of Speaking. As aspected from the Madrid-based record label and venue, the compilation is brimming with quality sounds from the darker side of disco, new wave, post punk, psychedelia and anything in between. Our pick of the bunch comes courtesy of Stockholm Syndrome & Lusca. 

Buy: https://playpalmusic.bandcamp.com/album/pals-vol-5

https://soundcloud.com/the-stockholm-syndrome
https://soundcloud.com/luscamx 
https://soundcloud.com/playpalmusic

Premiere: Stockholm Syndrome & Lusca - Symbols For The Simple Minded [Play Pal]

2 hour Darklove headline set recording.
Enjoy xx

Traxion @ Darklove 27/11/2021

Anika Kunst - Addictions - Symbolism (Low Res Clip)

https://superrhythmtrax.bandcamp.com/album/summer-of-love-ep

B2. Luca Lozano "Summer Of Love" (DJ Steve Remix) SRTX036 (CLIP)

Jeroen Search - Search 2021 - 022

Pleasure Clubb 001

Dug up from the vault - My DJ Set on the Main Stage Friday night back at Life Festival in 2010. 

Catch me back at Life Festival 2016. http://www.life-festival.com

Robbie Ryan DJ Set @ Life Festival Main Stage 2010

Disco Darren's Rave

Paper label boss Ben Davis has been DJing and producing for over twenty five years, most recently as the failed superhero Flash Atkins, whose music has rocked the boxes of Andrew Weatherall, Horse Meat Disco, Bill Brewster, Gilles Peterson, Bjørn Torske and countless others.

As his musical tastes have widened with age and sonic wisdom, so have his productions, beating a path to the Stubb project. 2019 saw two limited edition 12's featuring Jane Weaver, Tunng's Mike Lindsay and Huw Costin that have gone on to become digger's delights. 

Now the deep, cosmic and left-of-centre debut album 'Canopy' arrives, taking influence from dub, Africa, psychedelia, soundtrack, electronica, bass and Balearic. Found sounds infuse the album, from the sonic mayhem of Varanasi to the dawn chorus in Haven Wood as they blend with studio wizardry, vintage analogue kit and live sessions. The result is a blurring of genres and boundaries to create the Stubb sound.

The album is themed around the concept of trees and woods offering a safe haven in these time of climate catastrophe, offering refuge, wisdom, comfort, peace, shelter and solution. 

Psych-folk goddess Jane Weaver provides ethereal vocals on 'We Are Launching', a beautiful song set to hypnotic guitar that aims straight at the stars with arpeggiators and cosmic synths.

London poet Sirius Rush weaves his themes and words through 'On The Nature of Light', a track of psychedelic electronica that is heavy and trippy in equal measure.

'Love Not Sex' features Nottingham's Huw Costin and Rachel Foster to deliver the most blissed out Balearic track of the album. 70s folk, MOR and nu-disco can all be heard in a live track to stir the soul.

'Instant Karma' has Kathy Diamond singing over a throbbing sub bass, dark synths and live drums. It's moody and soulful in equal measures.

'Haven Woods' freeform drums lock into a groove over a bubbling arp, vocal snippets and digital pads. Effects and synths flow in and out as the track builds to reach a crescendo of joy and intensity. 

Philopappos features Leilani singing in her native Japanese over distorted guitars, heavy snares, a pinch of dubstep, clouds of drone and rave synth to top things off nicely.

'Boring Days' puts Tunng's Mike Lindsay through the studio mangler and presses the button named 'digidub', injecting reggae bass, Balearic synths and lots of delay, delay, delay.

You'd think Stubb couldn't get any deeper when 'Galleons Lap' and its analogue bass and broken beats begin to hypnotise, cushioned with dreamy piano and wistful chord progressions.

'Love Will Tear Us Apart' gets a full re-rub with shimmering percussion, Rhodes and heavy sub that takes the classic song into previously un-chartered territory.

Finally 'The Love You Once Regret' featuring Sylvette's Charlie Sinclair sounds like The Cinematic Orchestra have dug their vintage synths out of the cupboard and had a bit of fun. Otherworldly and psychedelic, the rhythms and tempo climb steadily up to the end chorus as it explodes into a firework of blissful melodies.

Canopy

On The Nature of Light feat. Sirius Rush

A Story of Italo Disco, Indie Dance, Slow Motion, New Wave, Breakbeat ...is now starting.

INCOMING : Le Jeune Fluck - Unexpected Ends #Sinchi
Release date : 2021-02-12
Buy : https://sinchilove.bandcamp.com/album/le-jeune-flu-ck-unexpected-ends

Amsterdam’s Sinchi Music returns with its 10th release, this time from German duo Le Jeune Flück and featuring remixes from Moscoman, Theus Mago and themselves.

Sinchi Music launched their label back in early 2019 off the back of their popular blog, events and DJ sets. The imprint’s mission has been to release quality left of centre electronic music, with all funds going to a non-profit foundation to support indigenous peoples’ right and preservation of culture. To date the label has seen music from
the likes of Sascha Funke, Khidja, Man Power, Curses, Tolouse, Low Trax and many more and has gained a solid following, whilst doing some genuine good for the world.

Frankfurt based pair Le Jeune Flück are the latest to join the ranks of Sinchi’s artists. The duo have been collaborating together since 2013 and have recent release on Dionysian Mysteries and clipp.art. Here they offer
up the superb ‘Unexpected Ends’, a rolling arpeggiated affair that comes on like the love child of Giorgio Moroder and Underworld. Incandescent synths and ethereal drifting melodies provide the perfect soundbed for the distinct half sung / half spoken vocals creating a track that is hard not to love.

The first of the remixes comes from Israeli producer, Disco Halal label boss and general don, Moscoman. His remix journeys into glitchier electro territory with a real sense of wonkiness and some seriously driving
percussion. Next up, Sinchi deliver their own mix that taps into the otherworldly with its cavernous FX, and off kilter electronic vibe. Finally Mexican artist and Duro co-founder Theus Mago takes things into a chuggier realm with a cosmic mid-tempo workout that is divine, a perfect closer to an outstanding package.  

☎ Connect ☎
https://soundcloud.com/le-jeune-fl-ck
https://soundcloud.com/sinchicollective

Robbie Ryan DJ Set @ Life Festival Main Stage 2010

Robbie Ryan

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