Sample-based turntablist hip-hop can essentially be divided into two camps: the arty, futurist camp populated by perfectionist beat maestros like DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, and Flying Lotus, and the minimalist, out-for-a-good-time group made up of chilled-out productions from the likes of J Dilla, MF Doom (in his instrumental jams on the Special Herbs series), and Madlib. DJ Design, a turntable wizard from the same stomping grounds in San Francisco as Peanut Butter Wolf, indisputably belongs to the latter camp. While Shadow, Chemist, et al craft sampledelic symphonies out of tiny tidbits of music, DJ Design relies on simple, friendly soul samples to build up his groove. If Endtroducing..... is the perfect accompaniment for a late-night toke, then Gather Round must be the equally appropriate companion for a spontaneous late-night dance party. There's nothing dark or mysterious about this music; it sounds like a crafty edit of all your favorite R&B tracks of the 60's, 70's, and 80'. Perhaps it's not as creative as, say, RJD2 (who relies heavily on similar sample material), but it's just as groovy and danceable, perhaps even more so. Unfortunately, Gather Round will never be looked upon with the same reverence as Dilla or Doom, but the twitchy funk of "Hey Man" and the warm, scratchy vibes of "Rum & Coke Life" stand up on their own, while the stuttering breaks of "Puma Vs. Adidas" and "Fudge" certainly warrant repeated listening. Plus the old-school album art is totally dope.
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