“Don Cicci takes the familiar world of cinematic action and gives it a completely new identity, turning a dramatic piece into a beat-driven listening experience.”
Released 10th April 2026, “James Bond” is a remix that really illustrates how a single, well chosen sample can be the basis of a completely different piece of music. Don Cicci (of London) draws on the work of Italian composer Enzo Minuti, adding some urban boom bap percussion to the sample to create a totally new piece. The title is obviously a nod to the world of James Bond, a world of suspense, action and drama. Don Cicci brings that same cinematic feel to his production, with the juxtaposition of the original piece and the added beat being the essence of the track.
What’s interesting about “James Bond” is the way the two elements work in tandem. The sampled piece forms the dramatic bedrock and the boom bap provides a much more down to earth, rhythmically driven character. They’re two very different musical worlds but Don Cicci uses that contrast to create the track’s identity. He doesn’t just put a beat over a sample and call it a day. There are a number of very subtle changes in the arrangement which keep you interested and give you a reason to be listening to the way the two elements are interacting. The end result is somewhere between a film score and a Lo-Fi track with the sampled piece lending the beat a character that goes beyond just the rhythm. The James Bond influence is very much there in terms of the release’s aesthetic. The name alone conjures up the entire atmosphere of the spy film with its music designed to heighten the tension and make every moment count. Don Cicci is very much utilising that association but he’s not going off and doing a pure Bond film score. The percussion provides a complete shift in the context of the sampled material, turning it from a piece of film music into something that can be used as part of an urban instrumental. That balance between the theatrical and the familiar boom bap is what makes the track work.
Don Cicci’s interest in sampling, beat chopping and layered loops is clearly evident in this approach. His influences are as much in the jazz/blues/soul sphere as they are in the cinematic/theatrical. “James Bond” is a case in point where the use of Enzo Minuti’s composition and the decision to rework it with a modern beat brings together all of those influences in one track. It’s a perfect example of how you can take an older piece of music and rework it for a completely different purpose and context. “James Bond” is a study in contrast and re-interpretation. Don Cicci takes a dramatic piece of music, introduces some urban percussion and builds a remix around the interplay of the two. It’s a very different take on the Lo-Fi sound, demonstrating that the genre can be used to create a more cinematic, more theatrical piece. For those into instrumental hip-hop, sample based production and beats that aren’t quite the standard formula, it’s a fascinating example of Don Cicci’s willingness to experiment
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