Drum Bits - 10 tracks - The first section of the CD is an eclectic collection of processed analogue drum loops, though most of the loops are percussive many also contain fill effects BPM's range from 73-148, and the last from 1 to 8 bars, the longer ones usually feature some fill effects and allow for some variation within the loop.

The loops have quite a range in styles from huge sounding pounding beats, to almost subsonic bass rumblings riffs, via some almost Kraftwerk minimalism, Prodigy like hard edged dance beats and quite a few somewhere in between. So there is no real set genre here, though the loops in the main sound quite heavily processed, some sound almost "normal" but that's rather the exception.

The loops tend to fall into two main categories, hard edged sounds, where the sounds are sharp and bright, drums sounds very punchy, and would cut through a mix. The other category are more muted meant to sit back in a mix more, though some sound a little too muddy for my liking, perhaps though this is emphasised by the brightness of other loops. There is a great variety of sounds as well, no doubt due to the analogue sound source, a whole range of kicks,snares,bass and fill effects.

Quite a few of the loops do have some noise, no doubt a relic from the sound source, most times its not too much of a worry but there are a few I'd be looking to use some noise reduction process on.

All in all an excellent collection of loops, with some real gems. The first two on track 3 great kick sound with some interesting fill effects are my favourites. Perhaps the only downside is that some of the very short loops are so short as to make it difficult so judge their character or wonder how they might be used as they repeat so quickly. The CD by the way claims to be 100% analogue, a few of the loops though do sound as if they have either real drum sounds or digital equivalents, otherwise they're extremely realistic analogue imitations. Allegedly !

Synth Sequences - 15 tracks - BPM's from 90-178, though mostly in the 120-130 range. Here we have another wide range of styles and sounds. Many of the samples are not sequences as you might imagine, but filter swept, gated, delayed, analogue sounds and arpeggio's. Again a whole range of sounds are covered, from reverse sounding arpeggios, bass riffs, ear screeching filter induced squeals, to more orthodox synth sequences.

The section kicks off with some deep bass filter effected riffs, some with Roland TB-303 like filter sweeps and slides, track 13 is a bit of a lie as its half synth percussive type loops, before returning to more orthodox synth blip sequences.

Tracks 14 and 15, my favourite in this section has some almost Jean Michel-Jarre like effected synth arpeggio's, mixed in with some seriously distorted ones, very good.

Track 16 has some rapid fire analogue blips and then some delayed/distorted effects, and then followed by some Tangerine Dream style driving arpeggio's, track 18 has some metallic style sequences, a couple of which are pretty ear piercing to say the least.

Tracks 19 - 21 is back to the synth bass sequences, though bear in mind these are probably as far from the "synth bass" patch on your General Midi keyboard as your going to get, but they're bass and synth generated !. Track 20 kicks off with a sweep over arpeggio sample of over 30 seconds, very good, then some more filter swept and distorted effects.

Tracks 22-23 are a bit of a mix, growling bass growls and some delayed arpeggio's which are very good. Tracks 24-25 has probably the simplest of the sounds in this section, probably an old Oberheim I'd take a stab at, powerful sounds, filter swept, without quite the level of effects as some others.

The section rounds out with some more bass and distorted growling like effects.

All in all quite a mixture of sounds and effects, from ultra distorted and effected bass sequences to delayed high pitched synth blip type lines. Generally very good indeed, there are a couple that you think, "well how could anyone use that", but if your looking to be different or creative then there is plenty of material in here.