Pirupa

Italy is on fire these days, with a new generation of DJs and producers taking the world by storm. One of the most visible names is Pirupa aka Piero di Gianvito from Teramo, Italy.

He’s been releasing records since 2007, beginning with a tough tech house style that’s gradually given way to deeper, sexier sounds. Within his first year, labels like Rebirth and Cr2 were knocking on Pirupa’s door. And since that he’s been unstoppable, with singles on Rebirth, Vendetta Records and Suara, his tracks are turning up on massive seasonal compilations and mixes from Vendetta, Defected In The House, Cr2, Subliminal Records, Noir Music, and many more.

His success in the studio has landed Pirupa gigs at some of the most prestigious clubs in the world, gracing the decks of Ministry Of Sound (London), Pacha (New York), Cielo (New York), D-Edge (Sao Paulo), La Kasa (Medellin), Nocturnal (Miami), Electric Pickle (Miami), Footwork (Toronto), Culture Box (Copenaghen), Warehouse (Birmingham), Cocoricò, Eliptica (Cali) , The End (Bogota), Echoes, Kindergarten, Prince, Folies de Pigalle, Sonar (Barcelona), Kazantip (Ukraina), Surround Festival, playing alongside legends such as Pete Tong, Steve Lawler, Dj Vibe, Chus & Ceballos, Paul Woolford, Sander Kleinenberg, Nick Curly, Smokin Jo and many many more.

One of his most popular tracks “Clarity of Love” featuring British vocalist Baz was released on Rebirth in August 2010 with remixes  by Leon, Pigi, Tevo Howard and Ramiro Lopez. His latest works include “The Leader / House Feeling” on Riva Starr’s Snatch! Records, as well as remixes on Luca Agnelli “Ah”, Marascia “Caliente” (together with his brother Leon), Marco Effe “Plaisire”, Chus & Ceballos “Echoes From Doruma” and Riva Starr’s Starr Traxx “More” (together with his studio partner Piga).

He also had a big tune on Nic Fanciulli’s Saved Records – “Guarda“, and it’s absolutely dirty house music. “Guarda” recently became “Essential New Tune” on Pete Tong’s radio show (on November 12th, 2010), second track from Pirupa which done it after his big re-edit of Pitto’s “Sea Lion Woman“.

Pirupa already has some new releases lined up such as “The Dark Land EP” on Basica Recordings, “Natamba” on IBIA2 (another collaboration with Pigi), and a couple of remixes for Defected and Noir Music.

Pirupa – Guarda

Pirupa – The Leader

Pirupa & Pigi – Bring That

Guti & Dubshape – Every Cow Has A Bird

One of the latest Pete Tong’s Essential New Tunes is “Every Cow Has A Bird” from Guti & Dubshape.

A classically-trained jazz virtuoso and national rock ‘n’ roll hero in Argentina, Guti was born in an exceptionally musical, sprawling catholic family, which included orchestra directors, saxophone players and pianists. His grandfather and uncles emigrated from Russia after the war. His mother, an education consultant, is from Uruguay. During the rule of the El Proceso military junta, Guti’s family fled to cities in Venezuela and Costa Rica: a story arching across Latin America, France and Russia. As a child he soaked up poems and novels by Borges and Vargas Llosa and his father would sing him Cuban songs. He is influenced by the folk music of Argentina, which he says is both incredibly intricate and perfectly simple.

As a teen, after getting into blues he began hanging with successful Argentine rock bands like the Black and Blues, Ratones Paranoicos, Viejas Locas and Los Piojos. Before long, his own band Jovenes Pordioseros were playing to the crowds of 10,000 people. But it’s not in Guti’s nature to stay locked in one mode of music. He made time to study salsa from a Cuban teacher on the side, as well as studying jazz under various teachers including internationally-renowned pianist Ernesto Jodos. It was in the studio of Latin Grammy-nominated producer and friend Leandro Martinez that Guti began experimenting with making house beats and singing on top. And having grown up with music, it didn’t take long before he was banging out several tracks a day without breaking a sweat.

A heartbeat later, he had landed a hit with Damian Schwarz on Frankfurt label Raum…Musik, and the tune was licensed by Loco Dice for his compilation The Lab. Then followed releases on Loco Dice & Martin Buttrich’s Desolat label as well as a string of collaborations with Shaun Reeves on Wolf + Lamb (“Hold Me Tight”) and Ryan Crosson on Supplement Facts (“You’ve Got Me”).

Dubshape aka Ale Reis and Joao Lee are two old time DJs, producers and friends from the Brazilian house scene. Inspite producing together Joao and Ale have always trailed separate DJ careers. As DJs they represent the deep and tech house scene in Brazil. Playing at clubs like Warung and D-Edge, where they have their current Dubshape residency in Sao Paulo, making warm-ups to DJs like Steve Bug, Gui Boratto, Phonique, Booka Shade, DJ T, Francois Dubois. With influences from old school house and deep house together with a blend of tech textures, their production caught the attention of labels such as 8Bit Records (“Spaced Out”), Kompakt Records (“Droplets”) and Supernature Records (“Fragments EP”).

So it’s no wonder that if you cross breed this three great musicians you get great hit in the form of “Every Cow Has A Bird“. Layered with jazzy piano medleys, undulating percussive drums, staccato cries and jubilant whistles, it has feel good stamped all over it. First appearing on Damian Lazarus’ new Fabric CD compilation it has been well in demand ever since. On the flip “Bueno” is a bit heavier, marked with throbbing bass and the quintessential piano key’s. Penetrating the senses with round textures and hungry vocals, it is still stamped with Guti’s trademark effervescent jazz pianist style. “Every Cow Has A Bird” together with “Bueno” was released on Crosstown Rebels on November 22, 2010.

Guti & Dubshape – Every Cow Has A Bird

Guti & Dubshape – Bueno

Michel Cleis

Michel Cleis is minimal techno producer from Lausanne,  Switzerland.

Michel grew up with soul and jazz music and for four years had piano lessons. He lived for some time in Berlin, Barcelona and Madrid where he assembled sound material which he often use for his productions nowadays. In the past he has worked on some electro pop projects, but now he increasingly active as a techno producer.

In September 2008 he released “Dixie on Monday / Deconstructed” on label My Best Friend and recently, in February 2009,  together with Salvatore Freda he released “Uva Fragolina EP” on Cadenza Records (Cadenza32).

But his most successful track is “La Mezcla” due to release also on Cadenza Records (Cadenza34). For sure you have heard it in the last few months as the track is played by various dj’s such as Radio Slave, Ricardo Villalobos, Loco Dice or Luciano and Pete Tong recently named “La Mezcla” as Essential New Tune in his radio show Essential Selection.

Original sample for this amazing track is from “Curura” by Colombian singer Toto La Momposina (it was also used in Timbaland & Magoo track “Indian Flute”), but the vocals come from the song “El Pescador” also by Toto La Momposina. This amazing facts I found on the blog of Chris Vaughan where you can also listen and compare “La Mezcla” and “Curura”.

But my personal favorite track from Michel Cleis is his remix on Eric Polaire “Polar Bear“, I fall in love with this track from the first time I hear it!

Mp3: Michel Cleis – La Mezcla (Mediafire)
Mp3: Michel Cleis – Dixie On Monday (Mediafire)
Mp3: Eric Polaire – Polar Bear (Michel Cleis Remix) (Mediafire)

Single: Michel Cleis & Salavatore Freda – Una Fragolina (via 0daymusic.com)

Michel Cleis – Deconstructed

Groove Armada – Pull Up (Crank It Up) (Feat Slarta John)

Groove Armada are back with new super hit “Pull Up (Crank It Up)” and EP which they are giving everyone for free!

The four track EP sees the band moving into exciting new musical pastures, with some of the material being recorded live with their band for the first time. This is demonstrated on tracks “Drop The Tough” and “Go“, both songs featuring new vocalist Saint Saviour from electro-pop outfit The RGBs.

“Pull Up (Crank It Up)“, with much-loved UK-based MC Slarta John, takes the EP up a gear and looks set to become their “Superstylin” of 2009. You can remember Slarta John in such hits as Basement Jaxx “Jamp’n’Shout” and “Bongoloid”, Hatiras “Spaced Invader”and Azzido Da Bass latest reincarnation of “Doom’s Night”. The track already became Essential New Tune in Pete Tong radio show Essential Selection.

“El Padrino” makes up the 4, an instrumental that showcases the true talent of the live band in Balearic style. Remixes of “Drop The Tough” come courtesy of Australian Electronic/Rock group Van She and Brazilian dance duo The Twelves. And Diplo created great Mad Decent remix on “Pull Up (Crank It Up)”.

The new EP will be delivered through a sharing system called Bacardi B-LIVE Share, and Bacardi is basically serving as the band’s record label. When you register at the B-Live site, you receive one track off the new EP for free. To get more, you share a unique link for that first track (which you receive via email) to a number of friends. The more times the track you share is downloaded by your friends, and their friends, the more additional tracks you’re given access to.

The online sharing application will be available until March 2nd, when the EP becomes available via commercial digital release.

Single: Groove Armada – Drop The Tough & Pull Up (Crank It Up) (via 0daymusic.com).

Royksopp – Happy Up Here

Norwegian duo Royksopp is back with third album “Junior” set for release on March 23, 2009. The new album has been described as a mix between the styles of the two previous studio albums, “Melody A.M.” and “The Understanding“, and features Robyn, Lykke Li, Karin Dreijer Andersson from The Knife and Anneli Drecker.

The first single off the album, “Happy Up Here“, will be released on 9 March 2009, and had its first play on BBC Radio 1 on 9 Jan 2009. Pete Tong loved this track and made it his Essential New Tune on 16 January. The single will be released via Astralwerks with remixes from Boys Noize, Breakbot and Datassette.

Recently Royksopp also celebrated their 10th “birthday” with release of a new track “Happy Birthday” for free on 15th December 2008. You can find it on their brand new website royksopp.com and you can also watch all their videos from “Epple” to “Beautiful Day Without You” on their account in vimeo.com.

Single: Royksopp – Happy Up Here (via 0daymusic.com)