Tool Shed Percussion | Music Tech Magazine

MTM RECOMMENDED AWARD 

Sometimes, the mere title of a sample CD collection is enough to tell you it's got real potential - and Tool Shed Percussion is one of those titles. Given the sheer number of sampled drum loops currently available, it's always refreshing to discover a collection into which a little original thinking has gone. But contrary to what you might think, this isn't a collection of grooves in which all the instruments of the drum kit have been replaced with the sound of jack hammers, hacksaws, grinders and the like. In fact, each one of the loops uses a conventional drum kit as its foundation and rarely more than two or three 'found' sounds to provide the percussive interest. Neither do all these sounds emanate from the tool shed - not unless that's where you happen to keep your suitcases, dustbins and 'goat hoofs'.

As this suggests, the compilers of this collection of 50 or so construction kits left no stone unturned when searching for interesting sounds. But their efforts have certainly paid off: without straying into territory which would make this a fascinating CD to listen to - but of somewhat little use to those looking for viable grooves to work with - Tool Shed Percussion manages to charm and inspire in roughly equal measure.

There's no doubting that many of these rhythms have a radically different feel from most conventional drum loops. What's not always so obvious is how this is achieved, given that so many conventional instruments have been used. But the results speak for themselves.
Sadly (and this is something Big Fish has been guilty of in other sample libraries), the two audio CDs offer only very short extracts of the grooves at the beginning of each construction kit. Rhythm, by its very nature, is repetitive, and only by hearing it repeatedly is it possible to make up your mind about its suitability for the track you have in mind. That's not easy when there's only four or eight bars on which to base your assessment.

Despite this, the sheer inventiveness of most of the tracks shines through. More than that, the collection includes a veritable treasure trove of fascinating sounds, classic drums and ethnic percussion instruments for creating your own loops. The inspiration comes straight from the tool shed...

A great concept cleverly realised - there's much here to inspire and delight the committed loop collector.

9/10
RECOMMENDED AWARD