Digging Through Critical Music’s New Wave of Energy
The influential label has unveiled the second edition of their ‘New Energy’ series following the debut edition in 2018.
The influential label has unveiled the second edition of their ‘New Energy’ series following the debut edition in 2018.
When Kasra first sketched out the vision for Critical Music in 2002, the plan was simple: release top-tier music while providing artists with the creative freedom they needed to fully explore their sound. Two decades later, that vision remains as strong as ever, which has now led to Critical Music as one of drum & bass underground’s creative juggernauts.
One of Critical Music’s most important contributions to drum & bass has been its unparalleled ability to strike a fine balance between honoring the genre’s contemporary sound with one foot planted firmly into the future. Releases like Underground Sonics, SYSTEMS, and Binary series, to name a few, have not only pushed the genre into new territories, but have also put Critical Music at the heart of delivering groundbreaking, futuristic sound design, and shaping the next wave of the genre.
Speaking of waves, Critical Music has just unleashed the latest edition of their ‘New Energy’ series – a comprehensive 21-track collection that captures the essence of the label, which Kasra has been pushing for more than two decades. Featuring a mix of established names from the Critical family alongside up-and-coming talents, the ‘New Energy’ VOL.2 encapsulates the label’s artistic prowess by bridging the gap between seasoned veterans and newcomers.
To kick things off, Critical Music mainstay Enei brings his razor sharp drums on ‘Odd Flip’ followed by Emperor, who brings his exploratory deep liquid sound with ‘Jealousy.’ Emperor has released some of his most critically acclaimed work on the label, and this tune is no exception, which blends emotive melodies with simple yet effective production techniques.
Calyx, who has been enjoying his ride of solo releases in the recent past, returns to Critical with the stomping ‘Never Alone’ before Kasra brings a gorgeous amalgamation of delicate melodies and brooding bass on ‘Close 2 U.’ Swiss maestros QZB waste no time in letting their feelings known with ‘No Compliance’—a giant dancefloor stepper with sinister bass stabs that go down your throat.
Hong Kong native gyrofield dishes out her famous intricate and broken elements with some delightful synth work on ‘Dirac Rhythm’ until Samurai Breaks cuts in like a ninja with the rumbling syncopations that juggle precision and energy effortlessly on ‘Lemon Popperz.’
Another Critical favorite, Particle, has been bringing the vibes into his productions lately and he makes deepest feelings known with Verbz on the poignant and rolling ‘Stay The Night.’ Label newcomer SMG, who is steadily making a name for his brutalist style of drum & bass, comes in hot with ‘Bozo.’
T>I, the man who champions the spirit of the past and present of drum & bass with his funk-driven style of music, lights up the ‘New Energy’ compilation with ‘Butane.’ Next up, ‘Power Brick’ from VISLA and Lavance is a tasty affair that brings funk, grit, and raw power into this irresistible collaboration. ABLE and Spectral follow the same funky narrative into their respective tunes until another collaboration from En:vy and Molecular called ‘Black Opal’ hits us right in the face with its screeches and snappy drums.
Waeys and Azumai do a fantastic job in catching you off guard with their edgier and obscure offering, ‘Doggy Marriage,’ before we catch up with dotdash, latesleeper, and PARA, who take the reins to close out this electrifying compilation with their unique flair. Napes takes us on a ride with his customary gritty bassline and rave stabs that are set to a rolling drum groove to make ‘Balaclava Park’ the perfect banger for the upcoming club season.
Satl joins in with his signature atmospheric and moody undertones of his track ‘Jump Scare’ and leads us to YAANO’s thrilling five minute journey full of euphoric highs with deep and resonant lows with ‘Drained’ that brings ‘New Energy’ VOL. 2 to a dramatic close.
The well-roundedness of this mammoth collaborative offering Critical Music serves as a testament to the creative playground that drum & bass offers for artists to find their space in while constantly exploring uncharted production techniques; a trait Critical Music and Kasra have embraced throughout their adventures with the label so far. In doing so, the label continues to solidify its place as a driving force within drum & bass, inspiring both established and emerging artists to explore the limitless possibilities of the genre.
Grab your copy of Critical Music’s New Energy Vol.2 via the label’s Bandcamp page.
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