Pelada is a Canadian musical duo which formed in 2014. The duo is composed of vocalist Chris Vargas and instrumentalist Tobias Rochman.[1] The group's music[citation needed] utilizes minimalist electronic instrumentation, including synthesizers, samplers and MIDI based drum machines.
Pelada | |
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 Pelada press photo | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Montréal, Québec, Canada |
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| Years active | 2014–2024 |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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Career
editTheir debut album Movimiento Para Cambio (2019) released by Berlin experimental electronic label PAN was described by Pitchfork as having a "subtly fraught quality—lovely as a sunset, yet disturbed by a hidden undercurrent—feels like the duo’s way of acknowledging our fundamental vulnerability",[2] while AllMusic defined the group as a "punk-informed, revolution-minded dance duo from Montreal."[3] DJ Mag called them "a vital and contemporary addition dance music’s punk canon."[4] Mixmag included them on the "Best Albums of The Decade" list saying "[a] fierce sense of urgency drives the Montreal duo’s debut album. Producer Tobias Rochman lays a foundation of bright rave synths, palpitating Latin percussive rhythms, atmospheric trance and earth-shattering acid, which vocalist Chris Vargas takes to another level with acid-tongued lyrical delivery, delving into themes spanning patriarchal oppression to surveillance culture to the impending climate catastrophe in sharp Spanish language polemics."[5]
Furthermore, Movimiento Para Cambio was featured on The Guardian's "Albums and Tracks of 2019",[6] Resident Advisor's "2019's Best Albums",[7] Fact Mag's "Best Albums of 2019",[8] and topped Stereogum's "10 Best Electronic Albums of 2019" list[9]
Pelada have toured extensively throughout North America with punk groups such as Iceage,[10] as well as festivals in Mexico,[11][12] and raves in Russia[13] and Europe,[14] including clubs such as Berlin super club Berghain.[15]
Ahora más que nunca was a longlisted nominee for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.[16]
In 2024 the group announced that they'd be completing their last shows together as a duo.
Discography
editStudio albums
- Movimiento Para Cambio (2019)[17]
EPs
- EP1 (2016)[18]
Singles
- "No Hay" / "Ten Cuidado" (2016)[19]
Music videos
- "Desatado" (2017)[20]
References
edit- ^ "Meet the Montreal Techno Duo Who Are Getting Punks Dancing". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Pelada: Movimiento Para Cambio". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- ^ "Pelada | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Fresh Kicks 135: Pelada". DJMag.com. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Mixmag - The World's Biggest Dance Music and Clubbing Destination". mixmag.net. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- ^ "Guardian albums and tracks of 2019: how our writers voted". the Guardian. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "2019's Best Albums". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "The best albums of 2019". FACT Magazine: Transmissions from the underground. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "The 10 Best Electronic Albums Of 2019". Stereogum. 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "ICEAGE on Instagram: "A huge thanks to every one who came out to this past month of shows in US/CA. Nadah El Shazly, Pelada & @shame has all been phenomenal tour…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
- ^ "NRMAL tendrá un showcase con Pelada". FILTER México (in Spanish). 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Festival NRMAL's 2018 Edition Features Álvaro Díaz, Mula, and More". Remezcla. 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Meet Pelada: Montreal's after-hours duo gets above ground at MUTEK | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "La musique de Pelada: ça promet". HuffPost Québec (in French). 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Programm | Berghain / Panorama Bar / Säule / Halle / Kantine am Berghain — Berghain". www.berghain.berlin. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "2024 Polaris Music Prize long list: the Beaches, Tobi, Elisapie, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and more". CBC Music, June 11, 2024.
- ^ "PAN announces debut album from Montreal's Pelada". FACT Magazine. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Meet the Montreal Techno Duo Who Are Getting Punks Dancing". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Le premier single du duo electro-punk Pelada va faire monter la température de quelques degrés supplémentaires". www.vice.com (in French). Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Premiere: Pelada's Desatado – The Editorial Magazine". Retrieved 2020-10-15.