DJ Shadow
Endtroducing....

THE REVIEW

"This album reflects a lifetime of vinyl culture..."

There are records that help you live better. Like "Endtroducing....", the debut album by Josh Davis, a brilliant manipulator of sounds known to most as DJ Shadow. Released in 1996 by Mo' Wax, "Endtroducing...." is as revolutionary as it is ingenious, a work that liberates Hip-Hop music from all its clichés and makes it soar into dimensions until then unknown, an emotional experience difficult to describe with words.
In 13 all-instrumental tracks, interspersed with brief interludes, our DJ Shadow creates an incredible piece from every perspective, ranging from intimate moments to passages of pure epicness that continue to surprise the listener. Once the CD is inserted into the stereo, you easily transition from the extraordinary crescendo of "Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt" to the rhythmic delirium of "The Number Song" and "Stem/Long Stem" (truly magnificent), and as you continue listening, you encounter other gems scattered here and there like the slow and hypnotic "What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part. 4)", "Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain" with its continuous changes of tempo and register, the engaging "Organ Donor", up to the total catharsis of the Axelrod-inspired and gorgeous "Midnight In A Perfect World" (enough said for those who understand...), a true masterpiece of the album and, personally, one of the most beautiful songs of the '90s.

In short, DJ Shadow succeeds in his intent and, besides gaining worldwide notoriety, ends up creating a kaleidoscope of sounds nearing perfection with multiple inspirations (Tangerine Dream, Metallica, the aforementioned David Axelrod, 70s blaxploitation, even Michele Zarrillo!), a tribute to music on a 360-degree level that transcends any attempt at classification or definition.
An essential album for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the music landscape of the past decade (and when I say music landscape, I don't just mean rock!) and, in general, a must-have in any respectable collection. Rating: n.g.