_Although that ShamanStems is a quite new kid on the block of sound library makers - after four released libraries it's clear that these fellows knows what they are doing.

Their latest release is called Dark Progressions and can easiest be described as a journey into the beauty of melancholia. Here, melancholy is more of sitting down reflecting on life with a cup of tea rather than drowning your problems with a bottle of cheap red wine.

You can listen to the official demo of Dark Progressions here.

_Soundwise, I directly found the material resonate with my own musical background from the 1990s when artists such as The Beloved, 808 State and The Shamen were all the hipness. To me, Dark Progressions is a mix between many styles. You can hear traces of modern trance in there and there are moments when I'm starting to think about the absolutely brilliant album Strange Cargo III when William Orbit was yet to become a monster producer. There are even moments when I'm thinking about Groove Armada. But the sounds and loops are very well connected and you never feel material doesn't belong.

"There is some clever thinking behind the library as well. For example, there are no conventional drum loops - but only kickless drum loops."

There is some clever thinking behind the library as well. For example, there are no conventional drum loops - but only kickless drum loops. But since the library comes with its own drum samples - this approach is actually better than providing traditional loops with kicks. These loops are absolutely delicious and work for more than just four-on-the-floor kicks.

Among the things that impressed me was that the audio synth loops also come as midi which radically open up for new types of soundscapes. I quickly hooked it up with Nexus and my own presets just to see what could happen - and it ended with a nice loop sounding like this.

_The synth chords and effects also impressed me enormously and fit with the style perfectly. In no time you can create some very cool sounding soundscapes.

CONCLUSION
In very little time I have become something of an admirer of ShamanStems - they have a knack for finding nice moods without overdoing it or making it sound fake. Another thing that I like is that their libraries aren't too big. 455 megabyte and 291 files in total is quite enough for a dedicated sound expansion like this. And for the price - I cannot ask for anything else. A truly wonderful library.

_ShamanStems Dark Progressions
Web: www.soundstosample.com.
Price: 16.90 pounds.
Good: Small and compact library, brilliant kick free loops, includes midi files, good price.
Bad: Nothing.

Review copy: NFR from Sounds to Sample.

IF YOU LIKED THIS YOU'LL LIKE:
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