The Avalanches - Since I Left You

Back in 2000 – back when music was still fresh with the release of Kid A – there were also The Avalanches, an electronic group with a great ear for samples. They were DJs that were known for their fantastic live sets and now, with Since I Left You. Through all of its songs, it propels forward with the use of various samples the group were able to find. It’s striking to hear such blends, especially when it’s all so seamless.

On “Flight Tonight” they opted to add Prince Paul and De La Soul and blend it with samples from the film Car Wash, Sylvester and Billy Boyo. It’s the moment on the album where they rival the smooth fusions of before with gritty, rocking vibes in the sense of Chemical Brothers. But the segue into “Close to You” is where the ease of it all comes stunningly to display. Besides the gorgeous Nancy Wilson and Isley Brothers samples, here they grab The Moog Machine and “Stool Pigeon” by Kid Creole and the Coconuts. I’m posting both songs here so you can sort of grasp the all-encompassing scope they were reaching, both rule:




A lot of the album’s release problems arose with the use of so many samples and having to get permission to use all of them. Make no doubt about it, Since I Left You is so beautifully crafted that it all sounds like a brand new album of awesome electronic music but yes, these samples are to die for. The largest proponent was the use of one particular Madonna song, "Holiday," like they did with “Little Journey;” the Towa Tei song, “Higher,” sounds especially lively but it’s “Holiday” that’s most remembered. And it’s even used before on the album’s second song, “Stay Another Season,” along with truly awesome samples from Yma Sumac and Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66:

- Bryan