October 6, 1998
When the lists are made at the end of the decade, DJ Shadow's Entroducing… will be seen not only as a watershed moment in hip-hop, but as a pervasive influence on pop music in general. Anticipating the rise of the turntablist as the true innovator in hip-hop and cementing trip-hop as a fascinating, viable genre unto itself, Shadow created a challenging album made entirely of samples from old vinyl with nary a MC in sight. This bold move is really just a return to tradition - hip hop began with the DJ, with rappers hired to distract the crowd. Shadow brings us back 20 years by putting the focus on the music alone.
But by looking back, Shadow has made an album about 15 years ahead of its time. What makes the album a tour-de-force is his refusal to pander to current hip-hop trends. Entroducing… is unlike any rap album you're used to. Anything is grist for his scratching mill, whether classical strings, soaring horns, pensive piano or gritty drum breaks - this is cutting edge like he's mixing with a circular saw blade instead of bargain-bin vinyl.
Creating drum solos with flicks of the wrist and looping bass with a sampler, much of this sounds as if it was actually recorded by a funky jazz fusion band in places, the mark of a great DJ. Moody and atmospheric tracks like "Building Steam With a Grain Of Salt" reveal incredible rhythmic insight upon repeated listens, "Organ Donor" is a masterpiece of sequencing and eerie organ tones, and the cool blue vibes of "Midnight In A Perfect World" are deeply seductive beneath that languid, insistent beat.
The techniques involved are impressive, but would be moot if the music itself were not compelling. Full of intriguing samples and dreamy melodies, schizoid rhythms and fluttering scratches, this is a focused, intricately constructed work that reveals endless layers as you get to know it. You should.
- Jared O'Connor
incredible rhythmic
insight