4STARS



This new 1.8GB multi-format collection from Sample Magic mines a similar 80-100bpm chill-out vein to that of Smokers Delight/Relight, but substituting some of the smokiness for a kind of shady, Latin beach after-party vibe, with maybe a hint of slicked-back Ocean's 11-style caper plot. Some phrase libraries try to give you a good, solid set of samples to cater for a wide variety of situations, especially where you need to plug holes in pre-existing arrangements. Sunset Sessions does the opposite, focusing its 1.8GB multi-format selection more on providing sparks of inspiration than bread-and-butter usability.



The backbone of the library is provided by the drum loops, which are a case in point. On the one hand, there's a lot of really interesting programming and a pleasingly hungover production which immediately bring a half-dozen potential backing-track ideas to the mind's ear. On the other hand, the sheer amount of character most of the loops have would make it pretty difficult to fit any of them within an existing arrangement - some rather OTT effects processing, for example, will rather hem you in at the mix.



The style is also pretty eclectic, taking in Latin instruments and rhythms; the subs and crusty delays of Dub; some genre-bending elements of glitchy electro; the occasional tight disco beat; and lots of laid-back hip-hop vinyl atmosphere. Although this makes the loops feel like a bit of a mixed bag, they all have lots of great background detail going on - there always seems to be something lurking slightly menacingly in the shadows. The samples groove along pretty well in the main, but I did occasionally feel that some got a bit stuck in the mud, so you might have to put some work in with REX 2 file slices if a specific loop doesn't turn over smoothly enough for you.



The lovely meaty upright basses, full of the kind of string character that really cuts through a mix, are a highlight. Again, certainly not a first stop for constructing a part to order, but top-notch for sowing the seed of a track built from scratch. The DI'd electric basses are also quite good, but not quite in the same league.



The trombone loops are nice, with a mellow and easy-going playing style which is quite difficult to find elsewhere, but the dry and fairly functional flute riffs didn't really set my acoustic foam alight, despite the odd cool flutter-tongue and overblown section. The percussion folders have some treats in them, going outside the safety zone of shakers, tambourines, bongos and congas to take in triangle, guiro and talking drum. However, the appealingly off-the-wall sonics of these (and odd clunky edit and background buzz) compromise usability somewhat.



Funny edits don't help the underwhelming acoustic piano files either, with the attack transients of a number of loops truncated, but the Rhodes licks and loops sound lovely, with the odd nice punchy riff to lift the style's typical 'Anyone know what bar we've got to?' chordal ambiguity. Rounding out the library are some scattergun 'lost in a stompbox warehouse' guitars and synth pads/riffs, which, fun though they are, most of us will probably lose down the back of the sofa before getting round to using.



Overall, I'd say that the parts of Sunset Sessions that are truly inspirational are worth the outlay, but the edginess and patchiness of the collection as a whole mean you'll have to put in some work to get the best out of it.