Since I Left You by The Avalanches

            

             Plunderphonics is the creation of a new musical piece without the use of any new material.  It is a completely sample-based genre, and has been employed by DJ Shadow, The Beastie Boys, and Girl Talk.  Girl Talk, probably being the most well known for the practice, combines pop, hip-hop, and classic rock in his compositions which are tailored for dancing.  The Avalanches take a different approach.  As the story goes, its members traveled around Melbourne going to flee markets and thrift stores, buying up all the obscure jazz, easy listening, funk, instructional, story-telling, and pop records they could find.  They estimate that there are some 3,500 samples on the album.  The songs come together with such precision; it is hard to believe that all of it is samples. 

            Someone like Greg Gillis, a.k.a. Girl Talk, is arguably one of the best mash-up artists around, but it is easy to recognize his work as sample-based.  Now, most of this is a result of the fact that his audience is more than familiar with the songs he is sampling, but in addition his style is intended for the listener to recognize it as a mash-up.  His songs are sporadic, shifting moods dramatically in a matter of seconds, and frequently only lapping two or three songs at a time.  The Avalanches make music that I never thought possible.  I know for a fact that the first time I listened; I thought they were your typical DJs, employing samples here and there throughout the album, but no, they have accomplished something that very few can begin to imagine possible.

            The most remarkable thing about this album is the modern feel that they are able to communicate to the listener when using such dated source material.  For example, a song like “Frontier Psychiatrist” sounds like at any minute they’re going to bring in the clashing katana followed by Method Man and Ghostface Killa.  “Summer Crane” contains the calming drift of Ninja Tune artists like Bonobo and Kid Koala.  And still “Close to You” sounds like a cut from Daft Punk’s 2001 album, Discovery.  Skillfully crafted and easily approachable, this is a must listen for everyone.

Since I Left You- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpqm-05R2Jk

Frontier Psychiatrist- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLrnkK2YEcE&feature=relmfu