DJ Cam – Substances – Album Assessment

“Substances” is an album by DJ Cam, released in 1996. It is a hybrid of jazz, vacation hop, and electronica, generating a bridge in between those kinds and combining them into one cohesive total. Though some tracks veer toward ambient, and all the small interludes involving the songs are produced of jazz-oriented loops, it is typically categorized as a excursion hop recording, especially for its sluggish-paced beats and stylistic origins.

In contrast to some DJ Cam’s other performs, “Substances” connection to hip hop type may perhaps not feel so obvious, verging likely extra to ambient, and jazz. As a substitute of the uncooked hip hop beats and occasional rapping, this history primarily characteristics electronic atmospheric results, ethereal vibraphone, harp arpeggios, strings, and breakbeat.

Just as his prior “Mad Blunted Jazz”, the album “Substances” reflects DJ Cam’s enthusiasm and fragile notion of jazz tunes by such as quick clips and samples from popular jazz recordings. “Good friends And Enemies” is built all-around a melodic piano loop, as performed by the legendary pianist McCoy Tyner on “Intelligent A single” by John Coltrane. Even so, this does not signify that this album has only sampled jazz recordings. For occasion, the main concept of the “Twilight Zone” is a string orchestra loop, extracted from the “Interview With The Vampire” film soundtrack.

DJ Cam’s “Substances” also capabilities an Indian vocalist Kakoli Sengupta, who lends her expressive vocals to these moody tracks as “Meera” and “Misplaced Kingdom”, including Eastern influences to people compositions.

“Angel Dust” is probably one of the most fragile and tranquil tracks on this recording. It options a mellow sample from a Blue Observe classic tune identified as “Lazy Afternoon” by Pete La Roca. The beatless keep track of with its ambient effects, fragments of flute, silent saxophone, and calming chant, is somewhat contrary to most of the DJ Cam’s groove-driven tracks.

Due to the increased influences of jazz and ambient tunes, “Substances” is more melodic, interior-oriented, sentimental, and dreamy than the previously introduced “Mad Blunted Jazz”. The beats are probably not so sharp and highlighted as some of his die difficult fans may possibly count on, hoping to uncover another assortment of extra fat hip hop grooves.

Nonetheless, this report even now has the DJ Cam’s signature minimalistic sound and thoughtfulness to it, in which all the aspects are place jointly in a simplistic, still creative way. People who are prepared to give up their anticipations and choose the album as it is – a tiny collection of delicate and contemplative tales – will most likely discover “Substances” at the very least as enthralling as DJ Cam’s other recordings.