Scotland Clubbing Highlights – May 2014

In Edinburgh Pulse and Compakt kick off the month with the visit of French producer Sebastien Devaud AKA Agoria. Emerging in the late 90s with a penetrating techno sound which he has increasingly laced with sombre melody and moody atmospherics, Devaud has amassed a considerable back catalogue for labels such as Different, UMF and Innervisions. As a DJ, Agoria’s track selections display a wide-ranging interest in electronica and beyond. His debut mix CD, the twilight-suited Cute and Cult, blended the likes Carl Craig and Mathew Johnson with Radiohead and even Iggy Pop to create a well-rounded and immersive listen, brimming with energy but also marked with moments of hushed reflection. Since then, Devaud’s reputation as a selector has grown and – as evidenced by his mixes for Fabric and Resident Advisor – his repertoire more readily includes soulful house cuts and elements of bass music amid techno and spaced out dub (Sun 4 May, The Liquid Room, £9 adv).

The next weekend sees the long overdue Edinburgh debut of Hotflush founder Scuba. Having cut his teeth in the formative years of the dubstep movement, Paul Rose has since gone on to develop his own sound and that of his label with more upfront house and techno seeping into his back catalogue. Joining him is a producer who has also evolved his sound considerably over the past decade. No stranger to creating monster club hits – his driving 2006 release as Bobby Peru, Erotic Discourse, has spluttered its way into countless club sets and mixes over the years – Paul Woolford is enjoying renewed attention and can lay claim to having one of the most played tracks of last year with his irrepressible Untitled EP on Scuba’s Hotflush becoming a firm favourite (Sat 10 May The Liquid Room, £16).

Next up, we have the second birthday of one of the best nights on offer in the capital over the last couple of years. To mark the occasion Unseen has lined up a tantalising prospect in the shape of Paula Temple. Though potentially a new name to some, Temple has been carving out a reputation as a gifted techno producer and a skilled DJ for over ten years. Announcing her presence with the blistering EP, The Speck of the Future, in 2002 – a track from which found its way into Jeff Mills’ celebrated Exhibitionist mix – Temple has continued to express herself through a number of aliases such as Fragile X and Jaguar Woman. Last year’s breakthrough Colonized EP on the classic R&S label has been something of a defining moment and her engrossing hybrid live/DJ sets have helped establish her as a nascent force in the future of British techno (Sat 10 May Studio 24, £7-9).

On Friday 16 May the Substance lads hand an Edinburgh debut to German producer Rene Pawlowitz, better known as Shed, who will be performing under his celebrated Head High alias. Establishing the project with the deep but punishing It’s A Love Thing in 2010, Shed has put a very particular stamp on his foray into housier territory. While many producers were quick to jump on the piano house revival of recent years – sometimes with great results but often with a dearth of originality – Head High carries the unmistakable techno thud of Pawlowitz’s earlier output. It’s rare that Shed dons this particular guise for a club set, and Substance has a knack for drawing out the best in guests, so we recommend you get down to this one (Bongo Club, £7 adv).

First up in Glasgow, the Motor City Electronics series continues to dazzle as La Cheetah host one of the most prolific modern talents Detroit has to offer. Omar-S set the bar precariously high with his breakthrough record, the confusingly titled 002 – a record named 001 followed a year later in 2004. Self-released on his now firmly canonised FXHE imprint, that introductory four-track offering might have only represented a solid and soulful contribution to the deep house genre, were it not for the mellow and beautiful Set It Out. Its placid chords and pining vocals, sampled from Midway’s track of the same name, confirmed Omar-S as a force to be reckoned with from the outset. Yet, rather than allow that record to define his sound, Alex 'Omar' Smith has continued to surprise with records that vary greatly in form and impact. Whether keeping it rugged and powerful, or smooth and reflective, he has earned his place alongside fellow Motor City producers such as Theo Parrish and Kenny Dixon Jr. Given his knack for unearthing great music – his label gave starts to Kyle Hall and Jus-Ed among others – Omar-S is unsurprisingly an accomplished DJ too. This one should be a no-brainer (Fri 2 May, £12 adv).

Continuing the celebrations around 20 Years of Subculture, DJ Harvey is set to make his first appearance in Scotland since 2001. A veteran of the UK scene, Harvey William Bassett has been DJing since the mid-80s and has long been involved in the art of re-editing which he uses as a way to inject originality into sets which draw heavily on disco and classic house from the Paradise Garage era. Long celebrated for his skills behind the turntables – as evidenced by mixes for the likes of Ministry of Sound, Radio 1’s Essential Mix and more recently Resident Advisor – DJ Harvey comes with the kind of pedigree regulars at Subculture have come to expect (Sat 3 May, Sub Club, £30).

A consistent force over the past few years, Suffolk-based producer Gerry Read brings his live set to Saint Judes for Uziki Muziki on Friday 9 May. Showing considerable adaptability in his sound, Read first impressed with his bass music-slanted releases for the likes of Dark Arx and 2^nd Drop before moving on to release more four to the floor tracks on Delsin and AUS, incorporating darker elements of techno and house into his continually expanding palette. If you want to know what to expect on the night, his live set for the Boiler Room last year would be a good place to start (£4-6).

Returning to CODE after a well-received appearance last year, Adrian Sandoval AKA Developer comes to town offering a particular brand of club music that is not readily associated with his native Los Angeles. Stark, sullen and unrelentingly driving, Sandoval’s take on techno undoubtedly seems to be more of a fit for the underground party scene of Europe than the sun-soaked surrounds of the City of Angels. With a steady stream of hypnotic and pulverising releases on the likes of Semantica, Mote-Evolver and his own Modularz outlet, Developer is the kind of artist who is refreshingly resolute in the pursuit of his chosen form. This one is highly recommended if you like to lose yourself in the mesmerising glory of stripped back, darkroom techno (17 May, La Cheetah, £6 adv, £10 on the door).

Finally, with summer almost upon us, the appeal of venturing outside for your kicks becomes a lot more appealing and Aberdeen’s Big Beach Ball Festival has more than enough inducements to Al Fresco partying on Sunday 4 May. House legend Kerri Chandler tops the bill alongside the equally revered Green Velvet AKA Cajmere and Scotland’s Mylo. Keeping the party flowing are some of the country’s most respected outfits such as Optimo and Subculture’s Harri & Dom. Tickets are shifting fast so don’t sleep on this one! (Aberdeen Sea Front, £45 + BF, £40 students).