Music Tech Review: Kelevra
Monster Sounds is the relatively new samples label from club veterans Aquasky. They've released a string of no-nonsense dance-floor ready packs created by top artists and producers from around the world, plus a dirty House music pack under their own alter-ego Black Noise Warehouse, and several vocal packs featuring American MC's and rappers. The latest release is a fresh collection of Jackin', Tech and Electro House loops and one-shots courtesy of prolific bassline house producer Kelevra.
The download pack contains around 720 MB of 24-bit audio and comes in either ACID WAV/REX2/Apple Loops/Live Pack or Reason Refill formats. There is also a substantial amount of hits and multi-sampled instruments that have corresponding sampler patches for EXS24, Kontakt, HALion, NN-XT and SFZ.
Unsurprisingly, for a man known for his love of bassline sounds, this pack doesn't disappoint in the bass department. Not only do you get some tasty bass loops, but there's also a good number of aggressive dives and wobbles, big, resonant multi-samples and no fewer than 21 sub-bass sounds. Balancing this you'll also find tech and Dutch-style synth loops, big trance lead multi-samples, raucous SFX and a smattering of strummed guitar chords.
Although these feature some interesting use of reverb and delay, we occasionally found some of the riffs to be a little on the cheesy side.
In respect to drums you get a decent amount of processed hits plus a well thought-out collection of meaty, upfront loops, each with a top loop, full loop and variation.
Finally, there are 161 male vocal loops, shouts and phrases. Although many of the shouts are slightly clichéd (and all are provided with reverb rather than dry),there are plenty of potential hooks available and this is a nice addition to the pack.
This is a well-crafted and laid-out pack, but despite flirting with tech house grooves and big rave synths, it's the exquisite bass sounds that will keep us coming back for more.
