Breakbeat was slumbering away peacefully
before the Plump DJs gave it a loud wakeup call with their
first release 'Electric Disco/Plumpy Chunks' in 1999. With
thundering momentum, their critically acclaimed productions
reformatted dancefloors and perceptions, and set new production
standards. Some were scared silly, few fell back asleep, but
many jumped up for a shower of Plump freshness. And an alarming
universal consensus was formed. Everyone wanted a piece of
the Plump pie, and fat was in.
Inspired by a top shelf girlie mag entitled Plumpers, Lee
Rous and Andy Gardner met and the Plump DJs were born. It
would be nice to say that before making music, the Plump DJs
had glamorous jobs - but we cant. Before the duo met Andy
worked in a cardboard box factory and Lee was a waiter at
a Berni Inn. The music started as a hobby and after a number
of excursions and collaborations with the Freskanova camp,
the two found their oats at the Finger Lickin' stable.
A global need for the bold attitude, squidgy sounds, and
Behemoth basslines amplified by the Plumps pushed the duo
into their Soho based Laboratoire Plump to manifest a large
destiny. Jerk to inflate! Inflate it did, next vinyl.
'The Push/Remember My Name' on Finger Lickin', waxed the
hairs off everyone's legs and the screams of delight led the
lads into completing their feature album "A Plump Night
Out" in 1999. The album sampler rocketed to No.1 on DJ
magazine Breaks and Beats chart for three issues in a row.
Before Lee and Andy could smile for another photo shoot,
remix opportunities were piled on the doorstep. Jumpin' and
Pumpin' (with perhaps a bit of pimpin) through the year of
chronic concoctions the Plump DJs' spin of Stakker Humanoid's
classic 'Humanoid' and a spate of other remixes for The Freestylers,
DeeJay Punk Roc and Mint Royale ballooned their status. Perfecting
a repertoire of coercive gruff sounds, the Plumps were in
high demand.
Their remixes for the likes of BT and Orbital became the
bubbles of oxygen that rose to the top of the ocean of global
dance music. The Plump ship made waves, putting the excitable
"Oh" back into H20. Historians, dance music critiques,
and Soho restaurateurs chuckled with glee as Lee and Andy
won the Galaxy loaded with dancefloor ammunition; launching
Smartbombs and dropping laughing gas onto Funny Break terrain,
replacing testosterone nu-skool with accessible sonic boom
and arse wiggle.
Lee and Andy were on the lips of every man and his mixer
from London to Rio, whilst the two remained loyal to the underground
movement. Judge Jules announced the Plumps mix of JDS' 'Nine
Ways' as tune of the week. They went on to achieve Mixmag
'Breaks compilation of the year'; Pete Tong's Essential compilation
album; album of the month in Wax and M8 and have been written
about in literally every dance publication going.
Their Elastic Breaks covermount CD on Mixmag sold over 140,000
copies and was their biggest selling issue ever. In 2001 the
boys achieved Pete Tong's Essential Tune with their remix
of The Elektronauts' 'Bumper' on Lacerba. Temptation grew
and the heat was so intense that 'Bumper' was nominated for
'Best Remix of 2001' at the annual Muzik awards. The Plumps
were also nominated for 'Best Breakthrough DJ' and narrowly
missed the shortlist for the Mercury Music Prize.
Not taking notice of the Diesel jeans that Lee lived in, Levi's
used The Push in a commercial, which ran in Asia for over
a year. As their popularity soared, the Plump wares provided
background music for Grandstand, Ski Sunday and Sky Sports.
By late 2001, Sony adopted 'Big Groovy Fucker' and Plumps
mixes of BT's 'Smartbomb' onto PlayStation2's Wipeout Fusion.
Finally, the much-talked about 'Big Groovy Fucker' was unleashed
in March 2002.
The formidable Fatboy Slim gave the Plumps 12" single
'TB Reality' a fat thumbs up. The flip 'Big Groovy Fucker'
was Essential Breaks Tune in 7 magazine, 'Single of the month'
in Muzik + Ministry, #1 in the DJ breaks and beats chart,
#1 In Muzik Sweep, Cool Cuts #14, Buzz chart # 16, as well
as appearing on numerous Compilations and covermount CDs.
The Plump productions are so rated that Phil Hartnoll called
the label to say it was the best remix they've ever had! Subsequently
they were been support DJs for both UK Orbital tours in 2001.
Remixing has been on the shelf for the past year as the
Plumps have been in Laboratoire Plump concocting some devilish
fare for their upcoming artist album. But in recent months
the boys took time to sharpen their remix skills on Mr Velcro
Fastener's crazy 'Electric Appliances' for Ali B's new Air
imprint, and have also mixed the recent installment in the
Fabric Live compilation series. Lee and Andy have stayed faithful
to their other monthly residency at the UK's number one club
Fabric. That's as well as appearances at Blowpop (Bristol),
Big Beat Boutique (Brighton); Bugged Out events around the
country and guest spots around the world, including tours
of Australia and Asia. Tours of New Zealand, USA, Canada and
Japan are in the pipeline.
