Picks Of The Week (03.09.22

1. Pirapus - Nomad EP [Selfreleased]

Recommended if you like: Andromedik, Lee Mvtthews, V O E

Finding someone either completely new or simply criminally underrated and putting a big ol' spotlight on them is definitely one of my favourite things to do on here. My second favourite thing though? Following up on some of these discoveries later down the road, once they have started reaping the rewards of their incredible output. Today, I'll take this second look at a duo who have been absolutely killing it since the last time I talked about them on here: Ben Hollamby and George Murray, better known as Christchurch-based, Dancefloor-smashing, UKF-supported Stadium DnB duo Pirapus!

Since the last time I talked about them on here, i.e. last December for the release of Obsession, I think it's safe to say that Ben and George have been on figurative fire. Not only have they been putting out overwhelmingly outstanding originals every few weeks or so, of which nearly all of them were given the very much deserved high honours of an upload to the UKF D&B channel, they also turned countless of non-DnB songs into weapons of dancefloor destruction, from Titanium to Innerbloom. Seriously, I can't recommend them all enough. Yes, all of them. Especially the Rise Up one. My god, that one, pure carnage. Anyway. This steady stream of soundsystem-shattering singles of course also brought a whole lot of attention their way, which is why they're now not only constantly lighting up all kinds of clubs in Christchurch anymore, but can also be regularly seen throwing down some mean tunes in Auckland, Dunedin or Wellington. They even got their very own headlining tour coming up right about now, to celebrate the release of their Nomad EP! Which is the exact EP I want to talk about today! Crazy, isn't it?

Ben and George waste no time and kick the doors right down with the EP opener Destination. Only a few seconds into the track, we're already running at full speed, with heavy guitars strumming along a powerful 4x4 drum beat. Once the listener's heart rate has been raised high enough, the beat fades out, leaving behind only the guitar softly strumming along. Well, that, plus some absolutely wonderful vocals courtesy of Angus Mossman, who you might know as part of the Christchurch-based Indie Pop band Run77! Literally everything from the hyped-up intro, to all the guitar work to Angus' vocals just gives off this vibrant Punk energy that only has one destination in mind: A punchy, extremely catchy drop, of course! I've already explained in my last review that the duo basically can't do no wrong when it comes to powerful drops, but I still can't help but gush about it. The way the guitar-fueled beat keeps the energy levels high, while this entirely too catchy yet weighty synth melody plays back-and-forth-sies with Angus' main hook, ugh, it is all just too perfect! Fun fact: Destination was the first EP single and even back in February, when it was first released, I knew I had to talk about it on here. Didn't think it would take me half a year, but hey, we got there in the end didn't we?

Speaking of perfect, Pirapus continues the hot streak with my absolute favourite tune of theirs (so far): Don't Let Me Go! Right from the get-go, we're treated to a lovely performance by up-and-coming vocalist and regular Pirapus collaborator Christina Harrison, with some relatively relaxed riffs providing the perfect background setting. As soon as the guitar starts flexing a little bit, former rugby player and current singer-songwriter Sam Heselwood joins in with his Indie voice to create this gloriously harmonic layering effect, making this one of my absolute favourite vocals of this year. Or maybe even of all time, who knows? It is just so perfectly executed and catchy and all-around great that I can't help but sing along to it every single time, which is saying something because, according to my last.fm stats, the track is literally one of my most-listened tracks of this year. While the vocals are a very strong part of Don't Let Me Go, the boys somehow managed to create an instrumental that's equally amazing. Not only do the heavy Dancefloor snares hit just right for this type of track, the call and response between this wall-rattling wave of bass and that cheeky little loop of synths going down and down and down is also simply incredible. Fun fact: When I heard this second single of the EP, I had to actively fight the urge to review this one prematurely, because I just love it so so so much!

On our third stop on our nomadic journey, Have It All, Pirapus continues this ongoing showcase of NZ vocal talent, this time giving the spotlight to Jono Stewart. I wish I could tell you much more about Jono, but there really isn't that much to find out about him online. But that's alright with me, the important part is that he absolutely smashed his performance on this one! Pirapus really know how to pick great vocals. Once again, the guitar makes a prominent appearance in the instrumental, however this time the duo went for the acoustic version, giving it all a bit more of a singer-songwriter feeling at first. Soon enough though, this lush, summer-y atmosphere is infiltrated by some properly ominous basses, warning us that things are about to get wild. Not even just the typical Dancefloor wildness we have heard so far, no no, for this one Pirapus crafted a special cocktail consisting of chaotic, uncompromising drums and a siren that will blast your head right off. Absolutely crazy tune.

While the tracks so far have already been quite different from each other, I would say they do share a similar style. So for this fourth stop on this auditory journey, Bad Dream, Pirapus decided to take us into an entirely different area of electronic music: Half Time! With yet another up-and-coming vocalist Zeaside, the brand new solo alias of Josh Burke, who you might also know as a member of the band Horizone, once again providing a lush vocal performance, and a guitar-powered buildup behind it all, you can already quickly tell it's a Pirapus tune. Even the half-timed drop, with its massive basses and cheery synths, oozes this signature Pirapus flair, while still sounding unlike anything else they've done before.

Last but definitely not least, we've got Wish I Had You, which, for the first time on this EP, doesn't feature any vocalist! Well, there's no credited one, at least. Ben and George still used a sweet, sweet vocal sample by Emma Jane Carville. Just like on Destination, the duo wastes zero time in showing us what awaits us on this EP closer: bright, cheery and upbeat melodies on a 4x4 beat. Before we go all-in on this concept though, the instrumental calms down a little again, giving the vocal sample some time to shine. That state doesn't last very long either though! Before you know it, you're already deeply entrenched in the aforementioned 4x4 bouncy castle, probably bopping your head up and down like a maniac. Totally not speaking from experience here. Right when your head accepts that this is its life now, Pirapus switch it up by turning the syncopation back on and throwing everything into one huge bass earthquake. Just an incredibly fun joyride all the way through. Fun fact: Jack Laven, aka 33 Below, worked on this track too!

Not only were Pirapus once again able to get all kinds of entirely too catchy vocal performances from all kinds of names you have probably never heard of before, they also knocked it out of the park when it comes to bassface-causing drops, mind-blowing switchups and stadium-like atmospheres, while keeping the production quality exceptionally high. Most definitely one of my favourite EPs from this year.

Other Dancefloor things from this week:

Trivecta, Sarah De Warren - Half A World Away (Mazare Remix)
Puppet - Angry All The Time (Mazare Remix)
2Whales - Lifeless (Mage Remix)
HIGHSOCIETY, Skyler Cocco - Rip My Heart Out (Kaixo Remix)
Toronto Is Broken - ENERGY (L Plus Remix)