Album: Ammoncontact

One in an Infinity of Ways, NINJA TUNE

Ammoncontact are Carlos Niño and Fabian Ammon, a Los Angeles DJ/production duo whose jazz-based samplescapes are a less outlandish equivalent of the work of DJ Shadow or Cut Chemist, with the emphasis more on mood than moves. Their roots in the LA hip-hop scene are only reflected here in the title track, which features a suitably questing rap by Lil Sci; the other 11 tracks are all instrumentals of a deceptively minimal, unimposing cast, with tracks such as "Wu Woomp Woomp" and "Wu Wu Woomp" - effectively, different mixes from the same source material - consisting of little more than a basic beat, a tentative organ vamp and a few whorls of synth. Sometimes combined with played parts, the duo's sampled jazz loops are allowed to find their own space, treated and transformed with a delicacy and sophistication at odds with the pushy aggression of most programmed grooves: on "Through The Moon", an organ loop rolls over and over, apparently unchanging, but imperceptibly developing its own funky, sync

Ammoncontact are Carlos Niño and Fabian Ammon, a Los Angeles DJ/production duo whose jazz-based samplescapes are a less outlandish equivalent of the work of DJ Shadow or Cut Chemist, with the emphasis more on mood than moves. Their roots in the LA hip-hop scene are only reflected here in the title track, which features a suitably questing rap by Lil Sci; the other 11 tracks are all instrumentals of a deceptively minimal, unimposing cast, with tracks such as "Wu Woomp Woomp" and "Wu Wu Woomp" - effectively, different mixes from the same source material - consisting of little more than a basic beat, a tentative organ vamp and a few whorls of synth. Sometimes combined with played parts, the duo's sampled jazz loops are allowed to find their own space, treated and transformed with a delicacy and sophistication at odds with the pushy aggression of most programmed grooves: on "Through The Moon", an organ loop rolls over and over, apparently unchanging, but imperceptibly developing its own funky, syncopated twitch. In contrast, "Dreamy" features woozy, vibrato'd orchestral samples overlaid with noodling bass clarinet and minimal rhythm programme. Overall, a lovely, understated chill-out set that never demands your attention, but exerts a powerful hold almost without you noticing.