X-ecutioners – Built To Scratch

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Main Program: B

 

 

It may last only about an hour, but Built To Scratch (2004) is a decent how-to on how to best develop one’s talents to DJ with dual turntables.  Many people in the know in the DJ and Club world will laugh at that statement, but there is no other way to put it.  Using split-screen and going through many aspects step by step, members of X-ecutioners pass on tips about skill with wisdom in a fine, long road explanation of what to do with the once-abandoned vinyl format.

 

The DVD identifies the framing as 4 X 3/1.33 X 1 full frame, but the program is actually letterboxed at 16 x 9/1.78 X 1 and shot on tape.  Add the simple Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and the combination is just fine for instructions.  The instructions are split into the following chapters:

 

1)     Marking The Record

2)     Fill The Hole

3)     Techniques Of Scratching

4)     The Fader

5)     Chops & Stabs

6)     Fades

7)     Drags

8)     Transformer

9)     Chirps

10)  Flares

11)  Crabs

12)  The Beat

13)  4/4 Count

14)  Different Styles Over A Beat

15)  Turntable Drumming

16)  Counting Bars

17)  Backspinning

18)  The Snare

19)  Body Tricks

20)  Combos

21)  Beat Juggling

22)  Fast Patterns

23)  The Breakdown

24)  Breakdown On Both Turntables

25)  Halftime Breakdown

26)  The Routine

27)  The Band

28)  Improv

 

That is an outstanding way to explain the entire process of DJ-ing, much more effective than the interesting bits and pieces (however terrific and informative) that the film Scratch (reviewed elsewhere on this site) could do.  Few other such programs, documentaries or special interest material, exist on the subject on DVD to date, so Built To Scratch is ahead of the game.  With two concert clips and two competition clips as extras, this is a disc very much worth getting.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo