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Something a little different this time around. I said I would do this review on the basis that I wouldn’t guarantee how the playing would turn out. That’s because, as it may be evident from the video, I am not a percussionist or Stephen Perkins by any stretch. However, what will hopefully be evident from the video is that these new instruments are interesting fun to play. If not, there are some good official videos you can watch. Street Cans I guess to describe these in more regular drum terms, these are like metal floor toms. They’ve been designed for use by drummers, street performers, DJs and front of stage performers. They’re made from 1mm ribbed steel shells, are single headed and are available in three sizes: 14″, 16″ and 18″x16” deep. They have adjustable legs that extend quite a way; I’m 5’10” or so and I found there was plenty of room to extend them further when playing them standing up. All three drums come with clear double-ply heads as standard and triple flanged hoops. Sound-wise, they’re big and loud when played with sticks and deep and dark when played with mallets. Trash Snare This is an interesting one. LP say that the ‘Trash Snare is a Swiss Army knife of an instrument.’ I’m not quite as sure I would have put it that way, but it certainly is versatile. The Trash Snare is filled with synthetic beads which give it versatility; it’s a massive shaker, ocean drum or sizzle effect. It’s also playable both sides. The Trash Snare comes with a Snare Wire Sound Enhancer which turns it into a side snare type thing. The Enhancer clips on to the drum between the head and the hoop and can be added/removed in seconds. I’m not convinced it sounds completely like an actual snare drum, but it does enough in that regard to get it by. If you take off the wires you get a more timbale-like sound. Check out the video where Stephen Perkins is playing it. Potz I wasn’t one of them, but if you were a child who started their drumming on pots and pans, then these may bring back some memories at least. Potz are small all metal instruments which can be played with sticks, mallets or hands. They’re available in three sizes, 4, 6 & 8”. The 8” model comes with built-in tab for the LP Sound Enhancer which comes separately. They look like saucepans without handles. Not being used to playing on this type of percussion instrument, playing the Potz felt a little weird since, as they’re metal and there’ no ‘give’ when you hit them. It’s something you do get used to though. Potz definitely present a unique sound, almost a cross between an agogo bell and a cowbell depending on the size involved. Or an actual saucepan. Jangle Bell Ok, it’s a cowbell with nickel-plated steel jingles inside. It sounds like a cowbell and a tambourine at the same time when you hit it square on. Not much more to it really. All in all, these new instruments represent some cool fun stuff. They add new possibilities to a drum kit, and provide additional colour in an interesting way. I don’t know if you’ll find them on a kit down the pub on a covers gig, but the smaller items can be mounted on a kit with a clamp and the Street Cans would work easily around a floor tom and definitely would look cool at the front of a stage. More over at the LP website David Bateman |
