Atropolis / S/t

Dutty Artz

formats available

CD
$10.50
DA 10 CD
844553043691
Street Date:
April 26th, 2011
Ship Date:
April 18th, 2011

It makes sense that a lifelong New Yorker has created an album that encompasses the best of tropical—a fresh-to-death amalgamation of nueva cumbia, dubstep, moombahton, Afro-Colombian house, and kuduro. ADAM “ATROPOLIS” PATRIDGE was born and raised in Queens, New York. As a young kid he played guitar, but by age 16 Adam was deep into sounds from Mali, Nigeria, the Balkans, the Caribbean, and South America. Living in Queens meant that all those musical communities were nearby. Atropolis spent a brief stint doing music for commercials and film. As an accomplished arranger and multi-instrumentalist, he was good at it, the work he was producing didn’t reflect the pressure, diversity, urgency—and uninhibited late-night fun—of New York City life. So he quit the commercial route and in 2009 Atropolis founded the CUMBA MELA DJ COLLECTIVE. Their first party was on a pirated ship docked in a dirty creek in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The vibe was anything goes, but grounded, reflecting Adam’s commitment to making fresh dance music that emerged from the sounds of his native city. The ambitious, community-oriented Cumba Mela parties brought in performers, film, food, and visual artists, and inspired Adam to start writing original material. The eleven songs here are perfectly-pitched—Atropolis’s cheery melodies and chunky beats move a dancefloor like the best tunes of fellow NYC global bass producer Uproot Andy. Atropolis’ background in music composition adds a layer of detail and deep musicality, which means Atropolis will speak to the normals, too... There’s live percussion, accordion, and trumpet alongside sampled intricacy. Four standout tracks feature female singers ANBULEY and Atropolis’ sultry-voiced discovery, Uruguayan NOELIA FERNANDEZ. Crucially, his music isn’t some eclectic bloggy mash—this is fourth-world funk that’s been tried and tested in NYC’s outer borough party scene, and united by his strong songwriting voice. (STREET DATE - 4/26/2011)