Pelada

Canadian musical duo
  • Electronic
  • house
  • techno
  • acid
  • punk
Years active2014–presentLabels
  • Pan
  • New Label
  • Mind Records
Members
  • Chris Vargas
  • Tobias Rochman

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.

Career

Their 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]

Discography

Studio albums

  • Movimiento Para Cambio (2019)[17]

EPs

Singles

  • "No Hay" / "Ten Cuidado" (2016)[19]

Music videos

  • "Desatado" (2017)[20]

References

  1. ^ "Meet the Montreal Techno Duo Who Are Getting Punks Dancing". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  2. ^ "Pelada: Movimiento Para Cambio". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  3. ^ "Pelada | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  4. ^ "Fresh Kicks 135: Pelada". DJMag.com. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  5. ^ "Mixmag - The World's Biggest Dance Music and Clubbing Destination". mixmag.net. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  6. ^ "Guardian albums and tracks of 2019: how our writers voted". the Guardian. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  7. ^ "2019's Best Albums". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  8. ^ "The best albums of 2019". FACT Magazine: Transmissions from the underground. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  9. ^ "The 10 Best Electronic Albums Of 2019". Stereogum. 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "NRMAL tendrá un showcase con Pelada". FILTER México (in Spanish). 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  12. ^ "Festival NRMAL's 2018 Edition Features Álvaro Díaz, Mula, and More". Remezcla. 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  13. ^ "Meet Pelada: Montreal's after-hours duo gets above ground at MUTEK | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  14. ^ "La musique de Pelada: ça promet". HuffPost Québec (in French). 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  15. ^ "Programm | Berghain / Panorama Bar / Säule / Halle / Kantine am Berghain — Berghain". www.berghain.berlin. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  16. ^ "2024 Polaris Music Prize long list: the Beaches, Tobi, Elisapie, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and more". CBC Music, June 11, 2024.
  17. ^ "PAN announces debut album from Montreal's Pelada". FACT Magazine. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  18. ^ "Meet the Montreal Techno Duo Who Are Getting Punks Dancing". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "Premiere: Pelada's Desatado – The Editorial Magazine". Retrieved 2020-10-15.