{{Short description|Polish nu jazz DJ/musician duo}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = Skalpel |image = Skalpel (Marcin Cichy, Igor Pudło) (8070626592).jpg |background = group_or_band |alias = |origin = Wrocław, Poland |genre = nu jazz, jazz, electronica, downtempo |years_active = 1998–2006, 2012 (reunion),<ref name="ninjatune">{{cite web|url=http://ninjatune.net/article/2012/aug/29/skalpel-reunite-at-sacrum-profanum-festival|title=News / Ninja Tune|publisher=ninjatune.net|accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref> 2013–present |label = Ninja Tune <br/> NoPaper Records |associated_acts = DJ Vadim |website = [https://skalpel.net/ skalpel.net] |current_members = Marcin Cichy<br/>Igor Pudlo }}
'''Skalpel''' are Polish nu jazz DJs, musicians and record producers, Marcin Cichy and Igor Pudło, from Wrocław, Poland. Their musical style is a distinctive blend of hip hop beats, laced with samples lifted from the rich seam of Polish jazz records of the 1960s and 1970s.
==History== In 2000, after interviewing DJ Vadim for a Polish hip hop magazine, Skalpel discussed samples, obscure breaks and the Polish music scene with him. That led to a combined tour with Skalpel and Vadim's live band, The Russian Percussion, during which they performed with four turntables. Later that year, Skalpel released a demo CD entitled ''Polish Jazz'', which gained praise from the Polish music press, and they were subsequently picked up by the UK independent record label, Ninja Tune.
In 2001, they released the ''Virtual Cuts'' mixtape, which was composed of two live sessions. Between 2002 and 2004, five of their live DJ mix sets were aired on Ninja Tune's Solid Steel radio show.
Skalpel aim to resurrect the spirit of 60s and 70s Polish jazz, using samples to re-work it. <blockquote>"The Polish music scene is very poor at the moment. Nothing really interesting happens. The majority of music on TV and radio is kind of 'World Idol'. Very little individuality – just copies of American music."</blockquote><ref>{{cite web | title = Interview: Skalpel | work = interview | url=http://r4nt.com/article/interview-skalpel/ | accessdate = 2008-11-21 }}</ref>
Skalpel's 2003 EP, ''Sculpture'' sold out upon release. It also led to a nomination for the prestigious Polish culture award, the Paszport Polityki.
Skalpel has released two albums. A self-titled album was released in 2004, followed by the double-album "Konfusion" in 2005.
In May 2014, the duo released a new EP, "Simple,"<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/simple-ep-mw0002655575/releases|title=Simple EP – Skalpel | Releases | AllMusic|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref> and a few months later released "Transit," their first full-length studio album in almost nine years, on their own record label, PlugAudio.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cheema|first1=Hasham|title=Skalpel: Simple and Transit|url=http://www.artefactmagazine.com/2014/12/02/albums-skalpel-simple-and-transit/|website=Artefact Magazine|accessdate=2016-03-14}}</ref>
In March 2020, Skalpel released their latest album, ''Highlight''.<ref name="frontview-magazine">{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.frontview-magazine.be/en/news/skalpel-the-acclaimed-ambassadors-of-electrified-polish-jazz-announce-new-lp-highlight |title=Skalpel, The Acclaimed Ambassadors Of Electrified Polish Jazz Announce new LP - 'HIGHLIGHT' | FrontView Magazine |website=Frontview-magazine.be |date=2020-01-25 |accessdate=2020-04-21}}</ref>
== Discography == ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details ! scope="col"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | POL<br /><ref name="pl">{{cite web|url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=206&lang=pl|title=Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS – Official Retail Sales Chart|publisher=olis.onyx.pl|accessdate=2016-05-19}}<br />{{cite web|url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=283&lang=|title=Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS – Official Retail Sales Chart|publisher=olis.onyx.pl|accessdate=2016-05-19}}<br />{{cite web|url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=256&lang=|title=Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS – Official Retail Sales Chart|publisher=olis.onyx.pl|accessdate=2016-05-19}}<br />{{cite web|url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=892&lang=|title=Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS – Official Retail Sales Chart|publisher=olis.onyx.pl|accessdate=2016-05-19}}<br />{{cite web|url=http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=1278&lang=|title=Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS – Official Retail Sales Chart|publisher=olis.onyx.pl|accessdate=2020-04-02}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |''Skalpel'' | * Released: May 17, 2004<ref name="interia">{{cite web|url=http://muzyka.interia.pl/plyty/plyta/skalpel-skalpel,2767|title=Skalpel – Skalpel – Muzyka w Interia.pl|publisher=muzyka.interia.pl|accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref> * Label: Ninja Tune/ Isound Labels * Formats: CD, LP, digital download<ref name="apple">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/skalpel/id416350985|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003033817/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/skalpel/id416350985|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2014|title=Skalpel by Skalpel on iTunes|publisher=iTunes|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref> || 12 |- ! scope="row" |''Konfusion'' | * Released: September 26, 2005 * Label: Ninja Tune/ Isound Labels * Formats: CD, LP, digital download<ref name="apple2">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/konfusion/id416318908|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003033747/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/konfusion/id416318908|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2014|title=Konfusion by Skalpel on iTunes|publisher=iTunes|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref> || 17 |- ! scope="row" |''Transit'' | * Released: October 10, 2014 * Label: PlugAudio * Formats: CD, LP, digital download<ref name="bandcamp">{{cite web|url=https://skalpel.bandcamp.com/album/transit|title=Transit | Skalpel|publisher=skalpel.bandcamp.com|accessdate=2016-05-19}}</ref> || 49 |- ! scope="row" |''Highlight'' | * Release: March 20, 2020 * Label: No Paper Records, K7! * Formats: CD, LP, digital download<ref name="bandcamp"></ref> || 13 |- ! scope="row" |''Origins'' | * Release: April 11, 2022 * Label: No Paper Records, K7! * Formats: CD, LP, digital download<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merch from Skalpel |url=https://skalpel.bandcamp.com/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Skalpel |language=en}}</ref> || |}
=== Compilation albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details ! scope="col"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | POL<br /><ref name="pl"/> |- ! scope="row" |''1958 Breaks'' | * Released: April 4, 2005 * Label: Ninja Tune/Isound Labels * Formats: CD || 25 |}
===Remix albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" | Album details |- ! scope="row" |''Virtual Cuts'' | * Released: December, 2000 * Label: Blend Records * Formats: CS |}
===EPs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" | Album details |- ! scope="row" |''Polish Jazz EP'' | * Released: 2000 * Label: Self-released * Formats: CD |- ! scope="row" |''1958'' | * Released: August 27, 2003 * Label: Ninja Tune * Formats: CD, LP, digital download<ref name="apple3">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/1958-ep/id416358238|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003033902/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/1958-ep/id416358238|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2014|title=1958 – EP by Skalpel on iTunes|publisher=iTunes|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |''Sculpture '' | * Released: March 24, 2003 * Label: Ninja Tune * Formats: CD, LP, digital download<ref name="apple4">{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sculpture-ep/416357649|title=Sculpture – EP by Skalpel on iTunes|publisher=iTunes|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |''Break Out'' | * Released: February 21, 2005 * Label: Ninja Tune * Formats: LP, digital download<ref name="apple5">{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/break-out-ep/416358411|title=Break Out - EP by Skalpel on iTunes|publisher=iTunes|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |''Simple'' | * Released: May 2, 2014 * Label: PlugAudio * Formats: CD, LP, digital download<ref name="apple6">{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/simple-ep/856020500|title=Simple - EP by Skalpel on iTunes|publisher=iTunes|access-date=2016-05-19}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Polish musical groups Category:Ninja Tune artists Category:Paszport Polityki recipients