Nate HarrisonCan I Get An Amen? (2004)

Can I Get An Amen? is an audio installation that unfolds a critical perspective of perhaps the most sampled drums beat in the history of recorded music, the Amen Break. It begins with the pop track Amen Brother by 60's soul band The Winstons, and traces the transformation of their drum solo from its original context as part of a 'B' side vinyl single into its use as a key aural ingredient in contemporary cultural expression. The work attempts to bring into scrutiny the techno-utopian notion that 'information wants to be free'- it questions its effectiveness as a democratizing agent. This as well as other issues are foregrounded through a history of the Amen Break and its peculiar relationship to current copyright law.

This item is part of the collection: Open Source Movies

Director: Nate Harrison
Producer: Nate Harrison
Production Company: Nate Harrison
Audio/Visual: stereo, color
Keywords: break, breakbeat, sample, jungle, copyright, hip-hip, sampler, drums
Contact Information: nate@nkhstudio.com, www.nkhstudio.com

Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

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Reviewer: RED RULER - - September 3, 2007
Subject: amen brother

really well done, and i've talked to the creator, and he's completely down with anyone sampling, mirroring, or downloading. (in case anyone was worried)

Reviewer: marc_widelode - - July 7, 2006
Subject: Magic

I like this video so much I'm going to sample it and remix it.

Reviewer: ne7 - - June 7, 2006
Subject: Brilliant Little Gem

Just came across this great little documentary - really interesting if you are into sound and while i knew some of the facts in this already it was still really nicely presented and put together.
The message of the piece is something we should all pay attention to...

Reviewer: Blenda - - March 10, 2006
Subject: Interesting history lection

Interesting history lection, but IMHO it should've been released as a sound file as the video adds nothing.

Also, did the author Nate Harrison clear all the samples before releasing this installation under a Creative Commons license? I think not.

Reviewer: FP - - July 27, 2005
Subject: Very interesting examination of loop sampling

The installation, captured here on video, works well as an informative and entertaining short documentary about the impact of recent copyright law on loop-derived music production. The sparse visuals - mostly shots of the installation itself - serve the subject well. The quiet vinyl crackling on the soundtrack heard throughout throughout the piece is compelling and hypnotic.