NEW ALBUM 'PAST TIME' out April 1
Producer & emcee duo D'Opus & Roshambo have teamed up again to bring out their long-awaited second LP 'Past Time', which includes the promotional single 'Come Find Out' (featuring Chanel Cole).
The album will be release on 1 April on Mercury Switch Lab through Inertia.
The duo have drawn from a pool of Australian artists to collaborate on songs throughout 'Past TIme', with Muph (Muph & Plutonic), Dialectrix and Mdusu just a few who contribute their verses to the album. Chanel Cole, member of Trip Hop group Spook, provides her unique voice on the tracks 'Bring Happiness' and 'Come Find Out'.
Nearly three years on since their last album 'The Switch', the duo describe the evolution of themes on 'Past Time':
"'The Switch' was, for the most part, a kind of story-telling record, soaked in the experience of melancholy, the darkness of regret, and of disappointment in self. This album [Past Time] is drenched in feelings of relief, happiness, contentment, excitement and opportunity. It is a record about moving on and traveling to a brighter future."
After playing at last year's Foreshore Festival in Canberra alongside acts such as Cut Copy and Calvin Harris, the group supported Evidence (Dilated Peoples).
With 'Past TIme', D'Opus & Roshambo are sure to keep their reputation for high quality hip-hop.
TRIPLE J
"Bass heavy, funky hip-hop, augmented by Chanel Cole's sultry vocals. This is great stuff coming out of the nation's capital"
MEDIA SEARCH
"both artists are not afraid to throw a few curve balls at their listeners"
FASTERLOUDER
"Their skills on the decks and the mic are undeniable"
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HISTORY
Ross Garrett (D.Opus) and Rowan Thomson (Roshambo) met in 2003; D'Opus already an established DJ having supported everyone from the Jungle Brothers, Q*Bert, Mr. Thing and De La Soul, while emcee Ro had built up an impressive reputation for spreading the hip hop gospel through his long-running show on 2XX FM. Taking inspiration from the golden era of hip hop, classic funk and contemporary drum 'n' bass, Ro & D.O came up with tight blend of story driven hip hop and rich musical diversity.
Having worked together for only a few months the lads released a promotional single 'The Question' which received national airplay on Triple J's Hip Hop show. The duo's first EP The Question was released in 2006 and distributed through legendary local imprint Obese Records. 2008 was a massive year for Ro & D'O, seeing the release of their full-length album The Switch (Mercury Switch/ Shogun).
Their single 'Million Dollar Bill' proved to be a bonafide Triple J favourite, spending a good portion of the year on high rotation, and being in the Top 100 most played songs on the station for the year. The duo received further support by being featured in JMag's 'Home & Hosed' and Rosie's Vox Pop saw her roaming the streets with 'Million Dollar Bill' in hand. This culminated as D'Opus & Roshambo were chosen as part of Triple J's Next Crop in November '08 (alongside Cassette Kids, Pez, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Horrorshow, and Oh Mercy), with the second single 'The Basement', featuring Canberra indie-rockers Hancock Basement.
Far from being content with airwave representation, D'Opus & Roshambo played a flurry of shows in, supporting the likes of Krafty Kuts, Muph & Plutonic, TZU, Downsyde, Koolism, Low Budget and The Bamboos, and hitting the stage at Soundscape (Hobart) and Corinbank. 'Million Dollar Bill' and 'The Basement' also received rotation on ABC RAGE, JJJ TV and Channel V .
'Our second album has been a long time coming. It is the album I've wanted to make ever since I started this emcee thing. It is the type of record that has been in our minds waiting to be born and made real. Where 'The Switch' was about making the leap from EP to LP, from making casual songs to a full blown full length record and taking ourselves more seriously, this new record will be our first cohesive album with a tangible theme at it's core.'
2010 is upon us and D'Opus & Roshambo have something keen to share. 'Come Find Out' certainly sounds like the right sort of invitation.
