When it was released in 1996, DJ Shadow’s debut album sent shockwaves through the music world with its diverse and eclectic take on instrumental hip-hop. Shadow spent two years producing the album, and it shows. Endtroducing’s thirteen songs are packed with samples from the realms of jazz, funk, psychedelia, electronic music, and even heavy metal.

Despite the album’s cut-and-paste nature, though, it all flows together seamlessly thanks to Shadow’s obsessive attention to detail (which was originally inspired by Public Enemy’s approach to sampling). “Building Steam with a Grain of Salt” features tinkling piano melodies over a loping bass line and booming beats, the latter of which Shadow morphs and juggles in ways that play with your sense of space and time.

I can only imagine the long hours that Shadow spent sifting through crates of vinyl to find his samples, but I sure am glad he took the time to do so.