DJ Shadow - Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt

If you know DJ Shadow, chances are you love him. The legendary DJ and producer from California revolutionized the world of alternative/instrumental hip hop with his landmark album, Endtroducing..... (Mo' Wax/Island), a record made up entirely of samples and put together using only a set of turntables, an AKAI MPC60 sampler/drum machine, and an early version of Pro Tools. His music has influenced countless musicians as diverse as RJD2 and Radiohead, and still sounds original and experimental even in today's eclectic music environment.

DJ Shadow - Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt


In case you didn't catch it the first time: this track (like the whole album) is made up exclusively of samples. There is no element in here that Shadow came up with himself. And while that may sound like criticism, it couldn't be further from the truth. The way the track is put together, combining musical fragments from a wide variety of other artists to create an entirely different, highly creative piece of music, is a testament to the validity of sampling as a true art form.


Even the spoken-word samples in this track are carefully chosen to add to the effect, and they have a real impact on the track as a whole. In particular, the opening and closing words (taken from an interview with jazz drummer George Marsh) contain some profound thoughts about music that I often find myself referring to in my own thoughts or conversations.

The music's coming through me...

Another great part of the track is the breakdown that drops in about halfway through, one of my favorite examples of breakbeat. It's a drum solo in its own right, just as dynamic and energetic as if it were played on a kit. Another example of DJ Shadow's unique sampling technique and musical creativity.

There's a reason this is one of my favorite tracks. If you find it as well, let me know.