Ask any downtempo producer which soundware release they rely on most, and the answer is likely to be Smokers Delight. Its loops have appeared in countless tracks, films and television shows - I've heard 'em myself. So when Smokers Relight Deux crossed my desk, I jumped right on it. With two DVDs - one for 24-bit WAV audio and the other for REX2 loops and a 2GB Reason ReFill - Deux is an order of magnitude more ambitious than its predecessor. The WAV format DVD boasts over 5,012 loops that cover drums, percussion, bass, chordal material, stabs, and deeply organic effects. The amount of usable drum loops in this collection is mind-boggling. The MPC & Vinyl Breaks folders contain stellar trip-hop grooves worthy of Om Records or Ninjatune, and many of these come in flavors with subtle variations, fills, and "noBD" (no bass drum) versions.



Fans of filthy, crunchy drums will thrill to the LoFi Breaks and Organ Beatbox folders, both of which contain rhythms that are exquisitely distressed in all the right ways. Several percussion folders cover territory from shakers, tambourine, and conga, to reggae-tinged dub loops for those who actually do inhale. Bass licks range from lightly funky to laid back and jazzy. The Music folders include luscious electric pianos, horn and flute snippets, and those atmospheric washes that characterize the modern downtempo sound. Many loops are swimming in reverb and delay, but that's part of the vibe. My only complaint is that key and pitch information is not included in the file names,forcing the user to match elements by trial and error. The Samples folder has individual kicks, snares, hats, handclaps, and other drums, as well as tasty flute, sax, and trumpet riffs. Unlike those in the Music folder, these riffs are organized by key, which makes it easy to match or retune an element to your track. The second DVD includes all of the above material in exquisitely-crafted REX2 format for use in supported DAWs. In addition to individual REX loops, a gi-normous 2GB ReFill is for Propellerhead Reason, and includes Combinator, ReDrum, NN-XT, and effect presets. In my tests, the presets were sensibly designed and worked as advertised. The depth and scope of Smokers Relight Deux is extraordinary. Not only is it a worthy successor to Smokers Delight, it also eclipses the competition. If you're a downtempo fan, get that credit card out now.