On album number six DJ Shadow drops a double album that divides his distinct style into two separate sides. The first side opens with an instrumental suite filled with dark, skittering beats that pull the loop-based beatmaking he’s famed in new directions. Featuring more live instrumentation and less reliant on chopped samples, ‘Our Pathetic Age’ is clearly a break from the work that made DJ Shadow’s name. In turn, the sound is more linear, with fewer overlapping layers. Where the first half of the album is absent lyrics and lacks the diverse textures of previous releases the second half is packed with featured vocalists. Joined by Nas, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Run The Jewels and De La Soul among others, part two of ‘Our Pathetic Age’ showcases DJ Shadow’s skill as a producer of accomplished Hip Hop that pulls the best from its stars. Together, the two sides represent an interesting breakdown of DJ Shadow’s sound featuring some individual standout tracks.