‘The Private Press’

Author: 
By Mohammed Alkhereiji, Arab News Staff
Publication Date: 
Thu, 2002-08-01 03:00

"So, what are you going to do for an encore?" is a query oft-asked of people who are on centerstage or have at least been in the spotlight. Well if you are DJ Shadow’s Josh Davis, a followup album would be a start. But the pressure of high expectations can scare the best of us. In 1996, DJ Shadow gave us "Endtroducing...," a record that would forever change how people look at the art of hip hop production. He managed to mix such genres as rock, jazz, and movie soundtrack music in a fusion never before experienced by the naked ear.

Music connoisseurs, hip hop enthusiasts, electronica lovers, and everyone in between embraced the album. Six years and a few side projects later, DJ Shadow returns with "The Private Press."

The thing that stands out about "The Private Press" is the fact that it is not a continually flowing set of songs like its predecessor. "Endtroducing..." works more like a concept album, or perhaps a very good mixed tape. "The Private Press," however, seems a little less certain, almost like a blind man trying to feel his way around in unfamiliar surroundings.

On the first track "Fixed Income," you get an atmospheric guitar sample, with a funky yet surprisingly docile drum loop. Then the next track explodes. "Walkie Talkie" is a nod to Old School Rap, with the trademark electronic handclaps, and the token Beastie Boy sample. Cool yet confusing.

The beats are reliably slick, so much so that it’s easy to forget this serious vinyl collector has painstakingly constructed these steady grooves from a plethora of sample.

The completely cinematic "Six Days" — which is driven by a dreamy vocal from a 70’s psychedelic rock tune that was based on Israel’s attack on Egypt and Syria — is a classic. Perhaps his best composition on this album.

The more straightforward "Monosylabik" proves a veritable foil and finds Shadow really going to town on the retro electro feel and filtering.

The one vocal that really works on "The Private Press" is "Mashin on the Motorway," a funny showcase for underground rapper Lateef. DJ Shadow seems to have quite a fixation in using cheesy vocal samples, the worst of which has to be Mr. Spock uttering "pure energy".

"The Private Press" is not a sequel, or even the next step in a music evolution. However, with such commercial acts, like Moby and Fat Boy Slim making waves in the electronica scene, it is refreshing to hear something as diverse and bold as "The Private Press." The album is not as good as "Endtroducing...," but a worthy successor. And if you don’t like it you can always use it to play "spot the sample".

***

(Comments: [email protected])

Main category: 
Old Categories: