Shadow LP in need of editing

Quite simply, turntable stylist DJ Shadow is a true master of his craft.

A DJ with an obvious abundance of talent, Shadow weaves solid beats and grooves, jazzy interludes, vocal tracks and whatever else he can get his hands on to create elegant trip-hop tracks.

On his new release, Preemptive Strike, a collection of unreleased material predating 1996's critically acclaimed Endtroducing . . ., Shadow's compositions are again thoroughly entertaining. The thing is, they're just too lengthy.

Preemptive Strike, which includes a pointless "bonus CD" featuring scratch-master DJ Q-Bert, has its highs and lows -- the highs being Shadow's selection of beats and samples, the lows being the extent to which he draws them out.

There's no denying the power of some of Shadow's work -- tracks like "Organ Donor" and "High Noon" are brilliant tunes to which Shadow adds his own distinctive sense of tonality.

But these tracks probably stand out not only because of how they sound, but because of their brevity as well -- both tracks wrap up in less than five minutes. The rest of the album's tracks probably should have also, because his repetitive rhythms lose punch after extended play.

The disarranged, four-part "What Does Your Soul Look Like?" is pure trip-hop, featuring an interesting mix of samples from Shadow. At the outset of "Part 2," Shadow throws together a classically orchestrated arrangement of trumpet, a chanting vocal track and wah-wah guitar before the main riff begins, a repetitive guitar sample that sounds vaguely Metallica-ish. That riff continues throughout all 13-plus minutes of the song, alongside a matching drum track.

Every few minutes, Shadow throws in some trippy chants or instrumental accompaniment in the background.

It's all very good, but gets old about halfway through.

"Part 3" is the highlight of the album, as Shadow uses a wide spectrum of sounds, including a brilliantly understated piano track, to set a mood of pure calm.

He then demolishes that calm when the drums kick in two minutes later. The rest of the track is pure Shadow -- setting a mood that is intermittently chaotic and tranquil.

It is on this track that Shadow accomplishes in five minutes what he couldn't in all 13 minutes of "Part 2" -- turning listeners' thoughts inward, in this case to answer the question, "What Does Your Soul Look Like?"

The song should end before the listener can answer.