Psycatron

Psycatron is a British techno and electronic group made up of Paul Hamill and Dave Lievense. Active since 2004, the duo develops out of the Belfast electronic scene and works across techno, house and electronica.

Releases and labels

The pair release music on several influential electronic labels, including Planet E Communications, R&S, Tronic Music, Cocoon, Bedrock, Tresor, Skryptom and Inflyte Records. In 2008 they become the first Irish act to appear on Carl Craig’s Planet E Communications. Their first single for the label, “Deeper Shades Of Black”, reaches the Top Five on Beatport, becomes associated with Berghain and receives support from artists including Derrick May, Ben Klock, Adam Beyer, Simian Mobile Disco and Kevin Saunderson.

On Planet E they later collaborate with Blake Baxter on “She Is Music”. For Tronic Music they issue four EPs, including “Directions”, “Tipping Point” and “Celestial Symphony”. R&S signs “Is What It Is” in 2009, and the track becomes one of the major melodic techno releases of that year. They also release “Thunder/Cloud 9” with Paul Woolford, which Sven Väth picks up for Cocoon and which receives airplay on Pete Tong’s Essential Selection.

Live work and DJ sets

Psycatron is known for live sets and DJ performances at clubs and festivals in Europe and beyond, including the Rex Club in Paris, Tresor in Berlin, Movement in Detroit, the Melkweg in Holland for ADE, and Berghain. They also perform at the 15th anniversary of the Detroit Electronic Music Festival in 2010, sharing the bill with Plastikman, Josh Wink and Model 500. Their live show uses their own music, performed with laptops, controllers and keyboards, and also includes loops, samples and other musical references.

Remixes, support and residents

The duo remixes UNKLE, Psychonauts, Jamie Anderson, Secret Cinema and Mutant Clan. Their music receives support from John Digweed, Joris Voorn, DJ Hell, Dave Clarke, Sven Väth, Martin L Gore, Ewan Pearson, François K, Laurent Garnier and Agoria. They also hold an eight-year residency at Shine and The Stiff Kitten in Belfast.

Influences and style

Hamill says that electronic music from childhood, including 1980s electro-pop and Depeche Mode, shapes their work, along with an interest in synths and DJing. Psycatron’s tracks are described as combining energy, groove, emotion and tension, and their approach draws on old-school techno while aiming for a modern sound.