Groove Armada
21 julio 2009 Ciclo IbizaRocks, Hotel Ibiza Rocks Ibiza + Filthy
Dukes
Fotos
Isabel Flores - La Skimal - IndyRock
Filthy Dukes
BIOGRAFÍA
Tom Findlay y Andy Cato son Groove Armada, un grupo que
destila energía por todos y cada uno de los poros de su piel.
Su faceta de djs les ha conducido desde sus inicios a una
búsqueda incansable de los beats más bailables y los loops más
vertiginosos. Tom y Andy, ávidos de música y experiencias,
llegaron a Londres dispuestos a comerse las pistas de baile.
Tomaron su nombre de una fiesta que se celebraba en Newcastle
en los setenta y fundaron un club homónimo: Groove Armada.
Andy pinchaba house en una de las pistas del local y Tom
hacía lo mismo pero con funky en la otra. El cambio de local
con una única pista fue el desencadenante de una brillante
fusión de estilos que han sabido explotar tanto en festivales
de todo el planeta como en su residencia en el prestigioso
club The Fabric de Londres. Su mezcla de techno y house con
funky, ska, rock o pop ha hecho de su sonido una marca
inconfundible capaz de arrasar en las pistas de todo el mundo.
Además de su faceta como djs, desde sus inicios en 1997 Groove
Armada no nos ha dejado de sorprender con singles buscadísimos
como el '4 Tune Cookie' o 'Up the River' . Desde su primer
largo Northern Star (Tummy Touch 1998) a su último álbum
publicado hasta la fecha, Lovebox (Jive, 02), los chicos de
Groove Armada han consolidado un sonido propio dirigiendo su
energía no sólo a las pistas de baile sino haciendo música tan
apta para bailar como para escuchar. Siete años de éxitos
desde sus inicios y un montón de grandes canciones que ahora
aparecen recopiladas en un disco doble, "Best of Groove
Armada" (Jive, 04), en el que se resume lo mejor de uno de los
grupos clave para entender la evolución de la música de baile
en la última década. Alegres y hedonistas, sus fantásticos
directos son el mejor antídoto contra el aburrimiento. Ahora
tienes la oportunidad de comprobarlo en esta nueva San Miguel
Session que los llevará de gira por las principales ciudades
españolas. Una serie de conciertos en la que los ingleses
estarán presentando su recién publicado álbum recopilatorio o,
lo que es lo mismo, revisando todos los grandes éxitos de su
ya extensa carrera. ¿Te lo vas a perder?
Soulsalvers Sound System (decks and effects):
Soulsavers es un duo de Manchester que se dio a conocer con un
primer Ep de seis temas, 'Beginning to see the dark', que
editaron simultaneamente en City Rockers y en su propio sello,
Ghost Ride. Su electrónica oscura y personal les valió ya con
ese primer trabajo el interés de la crítica, deslumbrada por
su impactante mezcla de bases de hip hop experimental en la
línea de Shadow o dj Krush con melodías cargadas de intensidad
creando atmósferas envolventes, entre la oscuridad y la calma.
El año pasado Soulsavers editaban por fin un esperadísimo
álbum de debut, "Tough Gays Don't Dance" ( San Quentin
Records/ Sinnamon Records, 03) con el que superaron las más
exigentes espectativas. Un disco a un tiempo oscuro y apacible
en el que contaron con la colaboración del vocalista de Spain,
Josh Haden. Electrónica con alma para escuchar con los ojos
cerrados.
En esta San Miguel Session contaremos con el cincuenta por
ciento de Soulsavers, Richard Machin. Además de músico y
productor, Richard es un avezado dj como nos ha venido
demostrando en sus diferentes sesiones en Razzmatazz Clubs a
lo largo del último año. En esta ocasión ha preparado un set
muy especial, funky y muy bailable, en el que nos mostrará la
parte más festiva de Soulsavers. Y es que los chicos listos a
veces también bailan.
Biography (August 2001)
One of the most critically acclaimed bands to emerge from UK
dance scene in the last two years, Groove Armada are revered
by the public as much as their famous fans.
Madonna, for whom they remixed the No.1 hit "Music", and Sir
Elton John are both Groove Armada aficionados. Upon Elton
John's request, Groove Armada were booked to play at America's
'Interview' Magazine's 30th birthday party, which he was
hosting.
Their set was rapturously received by the likes of Johnny
Depp, Calvin Klein, Liz Hurley, Jon Bon Jovi, Puff Daddy, Moby
and Giorgio Armani.
In the year 2001 Groove Armada's star is definitely on the
rise but it all began some seven years ago when Andy Cato was
introduced by his girlfriend to a group of Cambridge music
makers such as Tim 'Love' Lee, the Idjut Boys and a young man
called Tom Findlay.
Tom and Andy with the rest of the group sat around, chatted,
listened to records, played bass guitar and discovered they
had a shared love of jazz, funk, disco and real house.
Andy, a born-and-bred Yorkshireman, began his musical career
in a colliery brass band, from which he progressed to become
the UK's Young Jazz Musician Of The Year.
He developed a parallel obsession with house music, introduced
to it by his cousin Digs of the now-infamous DIY crew. "My
whole youth was filled with music in school," recalls Andy,
who plays a variety of instruments, including trombone,
keyboards, and bass guitar.
"I did everything with music that I could, without going to a
music school. I was going to go to a music school when I was
17, but thankfully my parents talked me out of it and I stayed
in the real world."
Along with a host of nu-house luminaries - Harvey, Nuphonics',
Tim 'Love' Lee from Tummy Touch, Tom is an exile from dreamy
Cambridge. He spent his youth seeking out obscure funk
rarities, DJing and picking up skills on bass and
trumpet.
He relocated to Manchester and promoted a series of successful
nights, and whilst there leant his considerable talents as a
live musician to some of the area's finest funk outfits.
Following a hugely successful residency at Oxford's Spectrum
night, Andy decamped to London where he set up the
Skinnymalinky label. Tom had also just moved to London and the
two hooked up and began a club night under the name of
'Captain Sensual at the Helm of the Groove Armada', taking
their name from a Kitsch '70's disco club night in
Newcastle.
Soon after the boys embarked on the idea for the recorded
Groove Armada project, which would become a more mature outlet
for their creativity - somewhere they could escape the 4/4
shackles of house.
In 1997 Groove Armada's first single 'At The River' was
released on Tummy Touch Records. Originally a limited 7"
release of 500 copies, the funky fireside dub of 'At The
River' caused mass hysteria amongst the nation's hacks
"Spotters are swapping their grandmothers for copies of it",
said Kevin Braddock at the NME.
The same year Tummy Touch released Groove Armada's debut
album. Combining jazz and funk influences with house rhythms
and technology, 'Northern Star's' wide range of references and
eclectic feel led to praise from publications as diverse as
Mixmag, Jockey Slut, Select, Echoes and Touch, and led to the
coining of the phrase "Nu-Med" or "Nu-Balearic" to describe
their sound
In 1998 Groove Armada signed a record deal with Jive Electro
Records, (an imprint of Jive/Zomba Records) and in April 1999
'If Everybody Looked The Same', the first single from their
second album 'Vertigo', was released.
Reaching number 25 in the UK charts the little known Groove
Armada had finally made their presence known to the British
public.
In July 1999 'At The River' was given its full release and
went straight into the top 20 in the UK charts. Following
swiftly after came the release of the critically acclaimed
'Vertigo' album, which reached the album Top 20 and Gold
status in the UK with sales now approaching 200,000
copies.
'I See You Baby' which featured vocals from legendary N.Y. and
Manumission MC Gram'ma Funk (and a remix from Norman Cook),
was the third single to be taken from the album, it was
released in November and also went straight into the top
20.
Early into the following year Groove Armada were nominated for
'Best Newcomer' at the 2000 BRIT Awards, 'Best Live Act' at
the Muzik Magazine awards and won the 'Best Chillout Album'
award for 'Vertigo' at the Ministry Magazine awards. 'Vertigo'
went on to establish Groove Armada in many countries
worldwide, including Australia and New Zealand where it
achieved Gold status in both.
2000 saw Groove Armada moving into new musical areas and
solidifying their reputation as one of the UK's most exciting
live acts. Starting with a limited edition remix album 'Groove
Armada - The Remixes' (a compilation of 8 tracks from
'Vertigo' remixed by the likes of DJ Icey, Attaboy, Kinobe and
Tim 'Love' Lee).
'Northern Star' was re-released by Tummy Touch, and Groove
Armada compiled the critically acclaimed 'Back To Mine' album,
a compilation of their favourite tracks by other artists (plus
one or two of their own) released on DMC Records.
In June Groove Armada set off on their most ambitious live
tour yet. With their 9-piece band they completed a 12 date
headlining tour of North America before going on to play
several of the major European summer festivals including
Glastonbury, Southside, Roskilde, Montreaux and V2000.
Groove Armada's third album "Goodbye Country (Hello
Nightclub)" will be released on 10 September. The album is a
tour-de-force that sees Tom and Andy taking the Groove Armada
sound to ever expanding horizons. Together with guest
musicians including Jeru Tha Damaja, Tim Hutton, Nile Rodgers
and Richie Havens, they have crafted a collection of tracks
that are, to quote the lyric of the first single
'Superstylin': "Inspirational music... for your spirit and
your mind".
And here is the core of Groove Armada - music that is
intelligent but not 'clever', electronic but soulful, dance
but not dance. As the lyric concludes, "maybe just recline." -
It is surely the best advice.
In the meantime Groove Armada continue their extra curricular
activities including their monthly DJ residency at London
superclub Fabric, they also have their own radio show
'Fireside Favourites' on London station Kiss FM.
Following the album's release Groove Armada will be setting
out on a major UK and European tour in the autumn.
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