Sample Everything by Pandamonium
A Review
Sample Everything, is the first instrumental album from 2 x
UK DMC Finalist and Redbull Drop Champion, Pandamonium. The beatsmith from
Devon in the UK has released a string of remixes and collaborations via
Bandcamp and continues to be very active.
In his early days he was influenced by the likes of Public
Enemy’s ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions’ and De La Soul’s ‘3 Feet High and
Rising’. So, now after nearly 30 years in the game he has decided to drop
something entirely based around his love of the golden era of Hip Hop but, with
his modern approach and focusing on his beat making skills and sample
manipulation, whilst paying homage to those influences that helped making him one
of the UK’s most well respected Producers.
I have to say that this album took me back to listening to
the classic Endtroducing by DJ Shadow many years ago and having this on
rotation in the car the last couple of weeks gave me time to really feel this
album and, in my opinion, anyone who vibes with that DJ, Sample heavy style of
instrumental Hip Hop/Beat juggling is gonna enjoy this.
So, let’s take a trip through the album track by track and
give you a feel for what to expect:
Kicking off with Stop
It, this is a banging but, easy listening track which quickly introduces
you to what this album is all about. This ain’t that s**t you listening to on
the radio man.
So, let’s get into this with Habit, a dope drum heavy track which is based around the art of
crate digging. Something that any Hip Hop DJ or anyone who is deeply into Hip
Hop will understand and probably done or still do today, I mean ‘Come on, Admit
it, we all love a bit of crate digging’.
Natural is up
next and keeps that Boom Bap, Sample vibe going on a track that is all about
Pandamonium being a natural at what he does. Who are we to argue that point,
any Hip Hop DJ/Producer will understand this one.
So, we now get to kick back chill with On The DL. A nice chilled out vibe that has you reminiscing on
those lazy days you just wanna kick back and take it real easy. That links very
nicely into The Jazz, a funky track
most definitely on the jazz tip and hitting you with that Jazz Hop vibe that we
all love.
Next up is Pandamonium’s special on video games with
Nintendo Power, taking us back to the early days of gaming and those consoles
that everyone had be it a Nintendo or, like myself, a Sega. A nice little
banger with plenty of instantly recognisable early gaming samples to make you
grin, if you remember those days.
Sweet Boom Bap Harmony
(An Ode to the UK Rave Scene), now the title might make you think you are
about to have you ears assaulted by some hectic, tripped out rave mix up but,
this track retains the heavy beat style but, with plenty of references that
cast you mind back to days on sneaking off to all night raves or last minute
parties in some disused warehouse, always with the risk of the Old Bill rocking
up and spoiling the night.
Intermission,
this is what it is. We are half way through so take sec just to reflect of what’s
already been and what is to come.
So, after that dope little skit, next we get hit with No More. A track to get your head nodding
but, with a vibe to those who be talking that Bullshit. No More of that for
sure.
Up next is a funky lil track with a dope beat and is all
about one thing, The Amazing Pand. I
ain’t gonna argue with that one. From type of Funky to another as Pandamonium
takes us a chilled out piano driven vibe on Play Your Piano but, still with more funk that a dead skunk... Bring
in the trumpets for the next ride as the Pand drops the beat and reminds us
that, I Gotta Vibe.
So, let’s get those heads nodding again and bang out a
straight heavy vibe with Spell the Name
Right. Pandamonium tells it straight, this is Hip Hop. Oh and remember to
get that name right ya hear. Now you’re well and truly in to that Hip Hop, what
do you do to that funky ass beat bro, I
Get Down, ok so what you waiting for...
Damn, before you know it you’re having so much that suddenly
the album is almost over and it’s time for the man Pandamonium to Bounce Like A Bad Cheque and be Outta
here but, at least he is outta here in style with a laid back vibe to drop you
back into reality, easy like.
Sample Everything is Created, Performed and produced entirely
by Pandamonium and not only that he does the Artwork himself too. MG GOST was
the only other individual who was involved and helped give Pandamonium
invaluable help and feedback during mastering.
MG GOST, who helps run the IBMC’s Label, was also
instrumental in putting the whole project out and Sample Everything is released
through the IBMC Label. So, huge props go out to him on this project.
Start to finish this album is everything you want from this
kind of vibe. Hip Hop music really brought the whole idea of sampling into the
lime light. The Hip Hop DJ’s and producers created this whole style of taking
old records and giving them a new lease of life. Albums like Sample Everything,
really demonstrate what can be achieved by a skilled artist and yeah, to me
these people (like Pandamonium) are true musical artists taking old dusty
forgotten records and using them to create something that shines again and
brings pleasure to so many.
So, yeah I really enjoyed listening to this. Picking out
samples I recognise and those I don’t and really going with the vibe from track
to track, always listening to the album start to finish in one hit. Like I said
before, I was reminded of other album’s from the likes of DJ Shadow, NuMark,
Cut Chemist and the like and it really gave me that sense that this style of
Hip Hop is still very much alive and in a variety of forms.
Pandamonium is someone you need to watch here in the UK. To
do everything yourself takes much skill and dedication and I take my hat off to
him for this release. I have really enjoyed his remixes and collaborations and
am looking forward to what the future will bring from him. Sample Everything
perfectly captures the elements and inspirations that make Hip Hop what it is
but, in Pandamonium’s own style.
I defiantly recommend that you check this out yourself and
feel how the vibes makes you feel. At the end of the day we are all individuals
and we experience music, the vibe and its energy differently.
Props to Pandamonium for sending me the album to review.
All the links you need are below.
Till next time, I out, Peace 5000 Gee.
Links:
Videos:
Natural
Nintendo Power
Sweet Boom Bap Harmony (An Ode to the UK Rave Scene)
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