Two of club culture’s most renowned figures,
Arthur Baker and Jon Carter, team up tomorrow night at the latest
Big Dish Go party at Kennedy’s in Dublin.
U2 remixer Carter was the pin-up boy of the late ‘90s big beat movement, and later a resident at Fabric, Bugged Out and Belfast’s Shine.
Arthur Baker is one of the most important producers in the history of music – he defined electro with Afrika Bambaataa on Planet Rock before suggesting New Order re-record album track 586 as a single Blue Monday that became the best-selling 12in ever.
Streetwise records founder Baker was also behind the massive New Edition single Candy Girl and the Rockers Revenge tune Walkin’ On Sunshine. With New Order this week confirmed for their first Dublin headline show since 1986, it was hard to resist asking the Boston native for his thoughts on the reunion that doesn’t include bass player Peter Hook.
“I’m still friends with all of the parties involved so I’ve got mixed emotions that the entire band isn’t back together. But it’s nice to hear the songs played live and I am hoping they will tackle Thieves Like Us soon.” Baker co-wrote that seminal tune and produced New Order’s Confusion and Touched By The Hand of God singles.
“I have to say all my New order recording sessions were memorable, but the session for Confusion at unique Studios stands out for obvious reasons.” The 56-year-old would love to work with the Mancunians again but “I’ve been making music with Hooky over the last few years. I was just in with him and Trevor Jackson a few weeks ago.”
The American icon fondly recalled his work in the 80s with Bruce Springsteen’s sidekick in the E Street Band, Little Stevie. “I’m very proud of the anti-apartheid Sun City project I did with Stevie Van Zandt in 1985. We actually raised awareness of apartheid in the US and raised money for the Africa fund.
“On a musical level I am most proud of writing Message of Love for Al Green and producing a record 30 years ago, Planet rock, that blew up electronic music.” Clubmix last saw Baker DJ while supporting New Order in Brixton in 2007, when he mashed up classic disco with nu skool cut-ups.
“I will be playing some of my own reworks in Dublin but will play mostly classic disco. I tried using Serato and Traktor but I have gone back to using USB keys and CDs.”
Incredibly, the price for tomorrow’s party is only €10. Doors open at 11pm.
Check out this great lecture with Arthur Baker -
For a complete guide to all of the coming week's gigs, movies and album, see The Scene every Friday in the Irish Daily Star