Skalpel
Origins


4.0
excellent

Review

by Trifolium USER (33 Reviews)
November 20th, 2022 | 30 replies


Release Date: 2022 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Back to your origins? Why not jungle?

Skalpel’s origins lie in a land where Polish jazz samples from the 60s are seamlessly set to crisp hip-hop beats. No wonder that they were right at home on Ninja Tune. After all, we are speaking of the early 00s here. This was a time when fellow Ninjas such as The Cinematic Orchestra and Mr. Scruff were doing all kinds of things to jazz and electronic, and when a very famous Ninja ape first rose to fame. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Skalpel have always been a little sharper and a little colder than their label mates (What’s in a name? Insert silly ‘A scalpel would come in handy for cutting all those samples’-joke here). Speaking of what’s in a name: I do not think Origins delivers what its name seems to promise. Sure, a few jazz samples are used here and there, and of course always with Skalpel’s trademark precision style. But for the most part the duo does exactly the opposite of going back to their roots. They cover a lot of new ground on Origins. Gone is the flavour of café noir. There is drum and bass here! There is Breakbeat, and, dare I say it, even summery Balearic House.

Is this album bad, then? No! I would say it’s exactly the opposite of that too. It’s very good! By bringing their precise style to these new genres, Skalpel have created a lovely record that occasionally smells of jazzy samples, but which is firmly situated in the club. Why Not Jungle, the second track asks. After hearing Origins countless of times during the last couple of days, I would say, why not?



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user ratings (11)
3.6
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Trifolium
November 20th 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Check it out. Buy it here https://nopaper.lnk.to/Origins

Mort.
November 20th 2022


25062 Comments


please hyphenate 'hip hop', thank you

Sinternet
Contributing Reviewer
November 20th 2022


26579 Comments


oh wow completely forgot these guys existed

Trifolium
November 20th 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

And are you happy I reminded you?



I hyphenated, thank you!



Hi Jesper we haven't met on Sput for ages I think that's why I've been a little sad all of these weeks!

Sinternet
Contributing Reviewer
November 20th 2022


26579 Comments


haha maybe, the debut is fairly tidy iirc, maybe ill peep a track or two off this

Trifolium
November 20th 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Maybe check track number 2 or 4. Pretty smooth, certainly enjoyable.



I do prefer the first two, but still.

Underflow
November 21st 2022


5297 Comments


If this keeps up this will be my favorite skalpel album in a while. Love the new direction so far.

Trifolium
November 21st 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Same! Although I did like Transit too.

Trifolium
November 21st 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yippeeee dedex! I already thought this would work for you 🌞🎇😎







Number 2 is so NIIIICE! 💖

Demon of the Fall
November 21st 2022


33733 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Nice and concise Trif!



first 3 Skalpel LPs have gotten a lot of attention from me over the last year or so (2 years? - time flies) so I will be checking this out



I am intrigued by this new direction you speak of

Demon of the Fall
November 21st 2022


33733 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

nice sound-off dedex



It has increased my anticipation by precisely 23.6%

Trifolium
November 21st 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yes yes YES! Very nice!



It's getting cosy in here. Hope you enjoy when you check Demon.



And you too Jesper!

Trifolium
November 22nd 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yippee pizza! It does and it does!

Demon of the Fall
November 22nd 2022


33733 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

'Is this album bad, then? No! I would say it’s exactly the opposite of that too.'



I would say this line is both vaguely amusing (not sure why?) and most certainly on point! This thing is smooooooth(er) than possibly expected. Nice little reinvention, of sorts.

Trifolium
November 22nd 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

"This thing is smooooooth(er) than possibly expected."



Very true, just like: "Nice little reinvention, of sorts."



Somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4.0 for me, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt.



Also I thought that line was amusing as well, happy it seems to work across screens and what not!

Trifolium
November 23rd 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

More of this today please yes yes yes!

Demon of the Fall
November 23rd 2022


33733 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

it is on my agenda for the day of today, yes indeedy

Trifolium
November 23rd 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

On Why Not Jungle now and that truly is a standout track oh my! Love it. They super succeeded to blend d'n'b with their trademark jazz samples there hmmmmm.



Jamming this together (sort of, at different places and at different times of day, but you get the idea) makes me even happier!!!

Demon of the Fall
November 23rd 2022


33733 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

this beats, it bops, it swirls, it comforts

I always liked these guys and their jazzy dnb schtick. I think Origins delivers a modest reinvention of sorts, without sacrificing their trademark sound-staples. Slightly sleeker, smoother, sounds luuuuuuush. Compared to their earlier works, anyway, admittedly can't even remember what their previous album sounded like tbh.

Good shit

Trifolium
November 23rd 2022


38965 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Nice! Agreed with all of the above. Slightly sleeker is right too and I love it.



Still think the first two are their best but this might have claimed third place.



The only one I don't enjoy, ironically, is Highlight.



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