- Ivy Lab is the newly-christened trio of Sabre, Halogenix and Stray. All three are among the sharpest in drum & bass, particularly the latter, who I'd rank among the genre's most enthralling producers. You may recall "Oblique," the stunning piece of fluffy-cloud drum & bass featuring Frank Carter III's silky croon. It stuck out as one of Critical's highlights of 2012, and to hear that they've continued collaborating is exciting. The first single under the new name, however—with another Carter III appearance—is disappointingly formulaic.
I almost feel bad saying that because "After Thought" is as immaculately produced as this kind of tip-toeing-on-ice drum & bass could be. Sure, it has Carter's voice stretching majestically across the black canvas and crystalline piano chords navigating the high-strung drums, but it's all pulled off in almost exactly the same manner as "Oblique." The more straightforward "Brat" better displays the trio's talents—namely, their incredible grip on dynamics and spatial manipulation. Put together, their music is a nimble barrage of vocal samples and bassline shards, sounds which you think you hear but disappear before you can put your finger on what they are. Above all they're still masters of what they do, and even if they occasionally fall victim to formula it's still fun to hear them run through the motions.
Tracklist A Afterthought feat. Frank Carter III
B Brat