ELAB

Jun 1, 2001 12:00 PM, By Jeff Obee

Face it: there are hundreds of hip-hop construction kits on the market. What distinguishes eLab's collection as abstract? Is it so different from the teeming multitudes of breakbeats and loops?

Abstract HipHop ($99.95) comes with two discs: a standard audio CD and a CD-ROM of WAV files prepared for Sonic Foundry's Acid. The CD-ROM contains discrete left and right mono files and complete stereo tracks. Although the audio CD doesn't provide you with access to mono files, the CD-ROM's individual mono files played in tandem provide a broad, full-stereo image consisting of two distinct but musically compatible loops playing in sync.

Let's Chill

The collection's subtitle is Caspar's Deep Vibey Turntable Phunk. Indeed, there's a distinct and appealing “chill” vibe to the package's loops. The disc's grooves sit at a relaxed 90 or 100 bpm, so everything is readily interchangeable.

The CD-ROM menu presents six categories, neatly organized into folders by bpm. The Inspiration Kits are full construction sets, each with roughly half a dozen compatible drum loops and a variety of instrument grooves provided by electric pianos, vocals, sound effects, bass, guitar, and horn.

The LoopTools category features drum grooves different from those in the Inspiration Kits. In both categories, the producers nailed the beats. You get soulful, analog-infused two- or four-bar patterns at every turn. Many patterns are laden with percussion. They range from sweet grooves in the style of Marvin Gaye's “What's Goin' On” to unusual takes on Brazilian- and bossa nova — influenced rhythms to down-and-dirty street funk.

Smooth Grooves

The Music Loops and Bass Loops provide a few smooth and solid bass lines but, overall, lean heavily toward electric piano and guitar licks and lines. Piano and guitar provide enough harmonic variations to give you room to move. The Sounds, Chords, and Riffs category complements the Music Loops beautifully with soul sax, flute, and horn sounds and riffs; more guitar and electric piano pieces; synthlike string pads and stabs; and a few instruments in combination.

The Vox and FX selections provide R&B and gospel stylings; spoken clips; squelchy, lo-fi — radio vocal effects; and breathy female-vocal trinkets. Synthetic crickets, reversed cymbals, and synth noises fill out the FX section. Xclusive Drums contains 173 quality vintage — drum-kit, beatbox, and percussion one-shots that include kicks, congas, snares, hi-hats, toms, rims, claps, and shakers.

Many sounds are drenched in delay and reverb, creating an ambient atmosphere. At times the delay is a bit overdone. That isn't necessarily a criticism, but such effects are sometimes better used in moderation and left to the end-user's discretion.

I occasionally heard the remnants of the drum loops with some other sounds, probably because much of the material was extracted from reel-to-reel tape. It wasn't a distraction, and besides, the samples benefit from the use of magnetic tape. There is a pleasing, warm analog sound overall.

The Abstract Truth

The CD-ROM covers the bases, so why include an audio CD? The audio CD serves as a backup disc and lets you audition files during a session while the CD-ROM is in use. Computer-phobic artists can use the audio CD with their vintage gear, and performing DJs might also find it useful.

You won't be thrilled with the audio CD's documentation, however. It lacks indexing and file times for each sound in a track. The cardboard packaging is hip, but one of the plastic disc holders inside came unglued after a few uses, making it unacceptable for hauling to performances.

The title's abstract is a tad misleading. Before I listened to the CDs, I thought the material might push the envelope with the use of esoteric plug-ins and sound-shaping applications. Deep vibey turntable phunk is a more accurate description.

Despite its title, though, the collection offers a lot of juicy material that distinguishes it from the pack. I can recommend Abstract HipHop on the strength of its drum loops alone; most grooves are superb and sit in a delicious pocket. Add a bevy of sound effects, music loops, and individual drum and percussion hits — all presented in formats to fit almost anyone's working style — and Abstract HipHop is an excellent purchase.

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Overall EM Rating (1 through 5): 4

eLab/Big Fish Audio (distributor); tel. (800) 717-FISH or (818) 768-6115; e-mail info@e-lab.se; Web www.e-lab.se