As genres go, 'Minimal' isn't the easiest to describe to a newcomer, not least as the name is something of a misnomer. Where much dance music runs shy of anything other than kick, snare, hats and the occasional bongo, Minimal drum production is frequently a deft balancing act between intricately programed layers and sparse, airy-sounding loops. Dub-style effects interweave with glitchy flutters and digital clicks, supported by a clean, sub-bass foundation... minimal by name it may be, but production-wise it's anything but!
One of the common mistakes when sample libraries attempt to venture into genres such as this is to lose sight of the fact that the music, for all the digital flourishes and and jokes about 11-minute long remixes, is still made for the dancefloor. Listen to the likes of Get Physical's DJ T, Thomas Schumacher or Trentemoller and a clear, focussed groove can always be identified, underpinning the Minimal trimmings with a structural awareness often missed by sample providers more interested in replicating the sounds alone.
All credit to Prime Loops then for this selection of tightly sequenced beats and percussive rhythms. The 130 drum loops in this collection all seem to "get it", with feet firmly rooted to an eclectic set of dancefloors. The sequences play on the genre's wide reach and ear for diverse rhythms, with polyrhythmic Brazilian-influenced top-end loops rubbing shoulders with Berlin-esque techno grooves and the UK's deep, dark blog-friendly house.
From the same producer responsible for Prime Loop's best selling ‘Minimal Synthesis’ collection, the loops are crystal clear, immaculately programmed and capture the Minimal sound perfectly. The low end doesn't seem to be overly compressed, and in practice we found loops could be dropped into productions from the outset without worrying about crushing the sound with subsequent mastering. Loops are for the most part provided with an identical loop minus the kick to allow for variations and drops, and more complex loops have been further sub-divided giving the opportunity to build the sequence in productions.
Prime Loops always provide their loops in a comprehensive range of formats, and Minimal & Twisted House Drum Loops is no exeption, with the full format list reading as:
- WAV
- Ableton Live Pack
- Acid Loops
- Akai MPC
- Apple Loops
- FL Studio
- Garageband
- Reason Refill
- Rex2 Loops
- Roland Fantom X, MC909, MV8000 or MV8800
- Stylus RMX Loops
... which in our view should be enough for anyone!
Summary
Prime Loops are justifiably proud of this release. Minimal (along with all the sub-genres within) is a tricky genre to get right, but this collection does an admirable job without falling into the realms of cliche. The collection also draws from a wide range of source influences without losing a sense of coherence and identity. The release serves to reinforce Prime Loops' strength as loop developers, which is a keen ear for contemporary production styles, and access to the production skills to pull it off without sounding contrived.
The collection isn't entirely without fault - stripped back low-end only variations of each loop to mirror the top-end only options would have significantly increased flexibility, and a few hits and FX wouldn't have gone amiss. But at the price, it seems churlish to criticise too heavily, especially considering the quality of the sounds and the detail of the loop programming on offer. When you add to the that the range of formats the loops are available in, Prime Loops' Minimal & Twisted House Drum Loops is a worthwhile purchase for anyone with their finger even hovering over the pulse of modern house produciton, or at least half an ear to the current dancefloor.
Original Source: http://www.laymansreviews.com/review.php?id=101
