What we said:
Label boss Kasra set up Critical Music in 2004 to nurture new, up-and-coming talent within the drum n bass scene. Seven years on, the highly successful label has played host to blinding releases from a string of top artists, ranging from the liquid talents of
Calibre and
Bungle, to more hard-hitting acts like
Total Science and
Break. From the delicate intro on ‘
Rockafella’ to the darker beats of
Lomax’s ‘
Innocent X’, by way of Riya’s gorgeous vocals on ‘
Redlines’ and the experimentalism of
Synkro’s ‘
Sketch’, Critical’s first compilation makes for compelling listening. And with future releases showcased from the likes of
Cyantific, there’s also a tempting glimpse into the label’s 2011 sound.