Music Tech review Trafik
Since 2003, Brighton-based Loopmasters has been producing consistently high-quality samples collections, in-house, at their Brighton-based recording studio. But October 2007 saw the launch of the new Artist series – sampling discs created by well-respected outside producers and artists. Aquasky provided the first title and Trafik have produced the second, a collection of progressive house and electronica samples. Trafik – Andrew Archer and John Elliot – are signed to the prestigious independent dance music label Global Underground and have just completed their second studio album, entitled Club Trafikana.
Trafik are producing some of the most up-to-the minute progressive dance music around at the moment, and their expertise in this genre is clearly evident by the generous helping of well-produced loops offered here: fat juicy drums, bass and synth sounds with an earthy, often menacing quality. It’s compulsive stuff, with tempos ranging from 120–135BPM.
What’s particularly impressive is the sheer number of formats: ACID, .WAV, REX2, Apple Loops and Reason ReFill, plus patches for Reason, Kontakt, HALion, EXS24, Emulator X2 and Ableton Live. As Loopmasters points out: if you can’t find what you need, you must be using the wrong software.
Verdict
An atmospheric, up-to-the-minute electronica samples set with a distinctive edge and a reasonable price tag. 8/10
