Artist: Def Cut Album: Return to Burn

Year: 1999
Duration: 0:0-1

Def Cut’s Return to Burn: A Critical Review of the Album

If you are a fan of scratching and beatmaking, you might have heard about Def Cut. The Swiss DJ is one of those artists that have dedicated their career to hip-hop culture. With countless collaborations and EPs under his belt, Def Cut's Return to Burn album certainly caught the attention of the music industry. In this blog post, we'll dive into the musical journey that brought Def Cut to create Return to Burn. Furthermore, we'll take a deep dive into the album, exploring the music genre, the most innovative parts, the best songs, and, of course, a critic to the overall album.

First things first, who is Def Cut? With a career spanning more than two decades, this legendary Swiss DJ was born in St. Gallen in 1976. He was one of the pioneers of the European hip-hop scene, developing his style and beat-making since the early ’90s. He's also an active member of the prestigious Skratchlords crew. His style is characterized by the use of samples, break beats, and unique scratching techniques.

Return to Burn is Def Cut's third album, released in 2018, and it's an outstanding display of the artist's talent. The album's genre is primarily instrumental hip-hop, accompanied by scratching and sampling. Still, it has some interesting variety in the different songs, breaking away from the typical formula. The album has nine songs, with five of those being on the longer side.

One of the album's most innovative parts is the many samples Def Cut used to compose the songs. His selection of samples range from jazz, soul, and funk to video game soundtracks, giving the album an eclectic vibe. Also, the scratching is present throughout the entire album, adding to the soulful beats. In this sense, Def Cut exemplifies what a hip-hop DJ should be: a curator of sounds. He doesn't just use the samples he likes the most; instead, he makes them work with each other for a better overall musical experience.

Now, let's dive into the best songs of the album. First, we have Isolation. This song starts slow and immersive, bringing in an introspective vibe. The bassline and the drum pattern draws you in, and eventually, the scratching comes in, amplifying the track's beauty. The second song we'd like to highlight is Hypnosis, featuring Vincent The Owl. The song's energy is intense, and the use of vinyl scratches is incredibly addictive. Lastly, we have Polygraph Test, one of the album's longest songs, with a duration of 7:20. The song starts with an old-school video game sample and transitions to an upbeat hip hop rhythm. The vocal samples mixed with the bassline overall make this song a standout from the rest.

Lastly, let's get to the critics. Although the album is a masterpiece, it does have some minor issues. The first being the length of some songs. Although we praised Polygraph Test, six out of the nine songs have a duration of more than four minutes. Listening to the entire album may feel like a daunting task. Secondly, although Def Cut's scratching is excellent, at times, it can feel overwhelming, especially for people that are not used to the scratching techniques. But overall, these are minor issues that should not prevent anyone from enjoying the album.

In conclusion, Def Cut's Return to Burn is a fantastic album that showcases the artist's talent and creativity. The album has an eclectic vibe, with an excellent selection of samples and scratching techniques. Although some of the songs' length and scratching techniques can seem like a challenge, fans of hip-hop and scratching will greatly appreciate the album. Def Cut took hip-hop instrumental to another level with Return to Burn, and it's a must-have for any hip-hop collection.

In conclusion, Def Cut's Return to Burn is a fantastic album that showcases the artist's talent and creativity. The album has an eclectic vibe, with an excellent selection of samples and scratching techniques. Although some of the songs' length and scratching techniques can seem like a challenge, fans of hip-hop and scratching will greatly appreciate the album. Def Cut took hip-hop instrumental to another level with Return to Burn, and it's a must-have for any hip-hop collection.