Looptone Lack of Afro Heist Themes | £29.95

Bank job and heist movie soundtracks have always been a fertile ground for diggers to pull samples from. To match the rollercoaster moods of such flicks, arrangers brought in tough brass sections and bongo maestros for the epic chase scenes, and plaintive string and moody rhythm sections for moments of cinematic suspense and character contemplation. It all made for funky grooves that hip-hop and breaks heads could loop up and make their own. Lack of Afro (aka Adam Gibbons) is clearly a big fan of the genre, and he’s more than adept at putting his own spin on it, whilst giving a nod to past masters like Lalo Schifrin and John Gregory along the way. Over 11 complete song kits he and his merry band of live musicians score what would be a bold and brassy movie, were it to exist. Bubbling Rhodes riffs, waspy Moogs, double bass licks and more get proper workouts under his watchful eye as he manages to capture a perfect balance of mood, tension, groove, exhilaration. Roy Spencer VERDICT 9