Whilst each track nominally has only one loop this loop isn't just a straight repeating loop.

The typical problem with sampling loops is creating variation. If you have a 1, 2 or 4 bar loop that repeats for ever it can make for a boring track. What most people look for is a little variation, to get you in and out of a chorus, bridge or dropout for example, or simply the beginning or end of a track.

What AMG have done here with each loop is to provide an evolving loop for its duration, so you don't just get one or two bars that repeat, you get numerous variations, usually 3 to 5. (Whilst on the audio version they run continuously on the CD-ROM they are broken up) You can then cull part for your main loop, perhaps cut up another for a variation and then use the individual beats for a simple loop for the intro perhaps. This approach enables users more easily to produce a polished finished track from these loops.

The variations vary from the subtle to the obvious, for example the addition or dropout of an extra sound on the loop, to a quite different pattern altogether, though never really getting too far away from the main loop theme.

My first impression of this CD was very positive, what I like about sampling is it enables me to use sound that I couldn't otherwise produce, and secondly to inspires me. I couldn't just sit at a piano and write a song, but listening through to this CD I reckon I could get an albums worth of tracks !

I think the CD is actually has more widespread appeal than the narrow genre that the CD describes itself as "dark trip hop" is certainly one of the genre's I'd say would fit this CD but also more orthodox hip hop, dance and soul musicians looking for a slightly harder edge could make use of some of the material on offer here. Certainly with the flexible approach offered here it does make for a wider appeal.

Additionally there isn't an awful lot of the "lo-fi" stuff either, yes there is some grit and bite in lots of places, some vinyl type noise in others, but perhaps not as much I was expecting given the title and description.

The loops don't make a huge use of "fill" effects, and those that do, bar one or two, include variations that don't make use of the fill effect. Usually this is a bass, scratch or percussive type effect. This gives much of the CD a feeling of some "space", I don't think there was a single element when I thought, "what could I add to that". Indeed I'd describe many of the loops of falling into the happy medium of being between too spartan and too busy, just inviting a bass line or chord sequence to be added and a track built up around the loop.

There is a high degree of processing involved here to produce very well produced loops, no doubt many hours has been spent subtly adding EQ, filtering,compressed and reverb. But still without the sound of being very processed, this certainly isn't one of the more extreme sampling offerings, but neither does is sound like a "live" sample CD either. Sort of middle of the road but not sounding middle of the road if that makes the slightest sense, perhaps the best phrase is simply "usable".

...Descriptions of some of the loops...