Clouds is a collection of beats (28 to be be exact) that clocks in at just under 53 minutes, and it’s the perfect soundtrack to bring spring in. Take one listen to “Shoot The Heart” and you will be amazed at how much is truly going on behind the drum scene. Most notably, behind the claps and synth, Brown makes good use of a line from The Pharcyde’s “Passin’ Me By.” The sample gloves into his own instrumental flawlessly.
Listen to “The 11th Hour” (stream below) and you’ll immediately think of Dilla. On “Tao Te Ching,” the first record crackles, making way for what sounds like a tambourine, eventually leading into a horn section, all under a dark drum pattern — it’s beautiful. “Heart of Glass” immediately makes me think of “old-school” Apollo Brown, with its introduction, horn, and drum use.
To his own respect, Brown has his own signature style with these beats, and there is a sound for everyone on this album. (via Indie Shuffle)
Download: Clouds by Apollo Brown
