Trailblazers Clouds & Tommy Holohan announce new ‘Hard Target’ moniker, label, and debut release EP ‘Echoes’. Arriving on 27th October the project takes influence from early breakbeat-hardcore and 2000’s trance. Paying homage to their musical roots across the 4 tracks, ‘Echoes’ sees them continue their individual perseverance of pushing the boundaries of quality electronic music, now together as the Hard Target trio.
Needing little introductions in their solo projects, Tommy + Liam & Calum as Clouds retrospectively, are known for being visionaries through their innovative & expert approach in DJing, production & everything in between.
Each traversing & pioneering their direction of hard-hitting electronic music, they first crossed paths at Dublin’s Hangar in October 2015 when Tommy was a 17-year-old resident DJ for Techno & Cans and Clouds were kicking up a storm with their productions & sets. Their relationship burgeoned as the three shared inspirations from legends such as Mauro Picotto, and Tiesto and each had a keen eye for the distinguished Sensation parties taking place in Amsterdam. This initially sparked ideas of collaboration, starting with impromptu B2B’s at esteemed venues such as Sub Club & La Cheetah in Glasgow. In turn, this led to them producing edits together as their musical chemistry prospered, culminating in their fixated collaborative odyssey.
The result is ‘Hard Target’ a vitalizing & forward-thinking project that simultaneously celebrates their deep-rooted love for the early 2000’s music scene & their certified contemporary approach to production.
As the electronic music landscape continues to evolve, Hard Target exemplifies how music can be innovated by drawing from cherished influences while pushing the confinements of nostalgia. Below, they give us ten tracks that inspire their new venture
01. Mauro Picotto – Lizard (Claxxix Mix)
What can you say, really? Perfection. We’ve been listening to this track for 20 years, it still has the same impact as when we first heard it.
02. CJ Constable – That’s What We Got
Good grief, what a screamer. Set thrusters to ultra max. Let’s Ride!
03. The Blackout Crew – Bbbbbounce
Proper dunt playing this one off our Sony Ericsson Walkman phones down at the park on a wet Friday night.
04. Electrotete – Alcatraz
Traversing the astral planes with this one. A heads down groover. The use of melody and subtle movements gliding over each other is something as Hard Target we try to apply to our tunes.
05. Kevin Energy – Vertigo
The energy from the riff is insane. We like the idea in our tunes to build and build in energy and drive, something done very well here.
06. Emmanuel Top – Acid Phase
Classic acid/trance anthem always works a treat. Something we look to incorporate into Hard Target tunes is melody and suspense not dissimilar from this Top tune.
07. Dj Boss – Space Wax
Broken beat trance techno, perfect for checking the dancefloor. Love the marriage of light synth work and hard-as-nails drums.
08. Adam Beyer – Remainings III
The drumcode legend with one of his classics. As you’ve heard in TARGET001 we like to use a Reece bass. Expertly executed here by Bruiser Beyer.
09. Aphex Twin – Polynomial C
We set our standards very high at HTHQ and this tune is the Gold Standard we strive to meet. Pure breakbeat ecstasy.
10. Tiesto – Traffic
Not a lot can be said here, from start to finish this tune has everything you want. The groove, the melody, the build, the drop. One of the best dancefloor killers ever produced by the king of Dance Music. A fair bit can said, actually.
Grab your copy of their debut release here.
