Virtual Crate Digging: String Beat Salad
Folks are always asking about what’s new and upcoming but, as shown by the vital and venerable culture of crate digging, looking backwards can also yield unexpected results and reveal hidden gems. And boy oh boy do we have some hidden gems. Let’s dig through our virtual bins of vinyl and see what we find.
Unexpected Juxtaposition Creates Unusual Balance
Rifling through the pantry of Three Ingredients or Less albums, I decided to try something a little healthier and found String Beat Salad (3ING-020).
For a long time I looked too hard at this title trying to decipher what a string beet salad would taste like and what kind of music that would equate to. But then I realized, it literally means a combination of Strings (as in violin/cello) + Beat (Drums). It’s a wonderful juxtaposition that tosses a more classical, traditional string section with a backdrop of electronic beats. Our chef composers carefully partnered the freshest beats with the ripest strings, resulting in a modern soundtrack that could accompany an incredible variety of visual productions, or even just a podcast about food.
This concept requires a delicate balance of flavors and “Longing For Love” comes together beautifully. Syncopated strings guide this mournful, serious theme while an unexpected oboe melody glides over it all. The programmed drums give this track a modern edge without being overbearing. “Longing For Love” builds throughout but never gets too big or dramatic with easy edit points along the way.
It never ceases to astound me how much can be done with just a few components when they are treated appropriately. There’s plenty of mystery and suspense through String Beat Salad, but “Royal Carriage Hydraulics” once again pulls off the unlikely combination with an unexpected flair. This track starts with a rather stately and formal string theme that seems to meld with the bouncing energy of the drums. A few woodwinds and brass features pop up while the drums change up the beat with each new movement.
The concept of String Beat Salad may have taken a minute to sink in for me, but it’s a combination that I’m loving. This one falls in the “Unexpected” category and can really elevate a production with a lackluster or typical music choice into something truly unique and memorable.
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