Platform 11, Pontypridd
Sat 8 Dec
Shadow Child, aka Simon Neale, is a difficult man to pin to a genre. You’ll see him billed at London’s Printworks alongside Hannah Wants and Gorgon City, and on the same cycle he’s listed after Lenzman on a head-spinning jungle line-up. Often DJs and producers will fall in line when it comes to their accredited genre. Nothing to be ashamed of, either. Yet, Neale’s resolve to evade the inevitable industry tags has highlighted his desire as a producer and a DJ to keep everyone, including himself, on their toes.
Boasting a fortnightly Rinse FM show that dips into all flavours of electronica, Neale has acquired a reputation as an influential tastemaker with a nous for plucking out the dance scene’s next big booter. Or, indeed, creating it himself. Neale has racked up an impressive collection of his own material since he switched from his old moniker, Dave Spoon, to his current title as Shadow Child. Various notable collaborations, including tech-house poster boy Hot Since 82 and Radio 1’s Danny Howard, are catalogued alongside Neale’s own bass-heavy productions, whilst his outstanding remix of SL2’s DJ’s Take Control has been thrust upon dancefloors across the UK since its September release, and is exhibited as the perfect party-starting catalyst in Loods’ recent Southbank Boiler Room show. A gem of a booking for Platform 11. CHARLIE COTTRELL
Tickets: £12/£10. Info: www.facebook.com/platform11pontypridd