Sounds—technology gives us the power to cut them, reverse them, distort them, and mix them in any way we choose. It’s only hoped the end product is something listenable. Together, modern technology and music have topped charts, dropped jaws, and spiraled downward into pits of bad ideas and low record sales.??Access to computers and music software is starting to strip away some of the mysticism electronic music has always used to intrigue listeners. Soon, even a complete lack of liner notes won’t be able to save the craftiest of electronic gurus from having their know-how copied, pasted, and passed along like bad e-mail chain letters.??Now, in regards to how he creates his music, James Rutledge—or “Pedro” for the purposes of this review—isn’t doing anything unbeknownst to the rest of us: samples + beats + synths = music. However, his take on the whole concept of beatcraft really humanizes electronic music. A growing number of electronic musicians have been using acoustic sounds and quirky melodies that bring electronic music past its sparse and calculated roots.??Many of the tracks on You, Me and Everyone are just as wild and freewheeling as the jazz sampled to make this album. Though Pedro displays prowess when it comes to studio production, a lot of this album’s power is held in its sampling. As far as sounds and textures go, this album is a toy box of eclecticism.??“Lung” is one of the album’s strongest points and it demands attention from the start. The rich sax and upright bass are tastefully held up by the hip-hop beat Pedro placed beneath it. And the free jazz break in the midst of the head bobbing bliss is a recurring theme on the album. ??“Green Apples” starts off as a chaotic mess of drum fills and glitched electronics. Who knows what else is creating that ruckus in the background, but the music quickly comes together with jazz flute and a heavy drum beat.??“Red Apples” starts off with a slightly Latin feel, but reverbed synths and other electronic mayhem keeps the South American flavor at bay. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is your interpretation.??The minimalist “Hope is a Happiness” stands out a bit due to its straightforward composition and a hip-hop influence that’s heavier than most of the tracks on You, Me and Everyone.??Tracks like “Sound Song,” “You, Me and Everyone,” and There Will Always Be More” dip into classical minimalism, but jazz and hip-hop influences run rampid throughout most of the LP.??Though the process to making this music is tried and true, Pedro shows some real creativity here. The mechanics of electronic music are becoming more apparent, but that doesn't mean the genre is going to become less interesting. After all, just because we know how a guitar works doesn't mean we're less interested in hearing one. - The Needle Drop