- Spectrasoul has had a large impact on the sound of Critical, and it's quickly apparent in the newest 12-inch from the label, which features a trio of relative newcomers, Hydro, FD and Keza. They bring two subtle and understated drum & bass rollers to the table that are reminiscent of the Brighton duo.
Percussive elements dance around the steely bass on "Canopy"; strings, pads and synths build atmosphere and melody while keeping the bass and beats at the fore. The rhythmic interplay is the key, as the producers tinker with delays and make the percussion seem random but always wedded to the tic-toc foundation of the two step beat. "Remorse" is harder, with staccato rhythms and steppy drums providing ample space for the booming bassline. The atmosphere and the timbre of the beats construct a song that sounds like it was crafted in the furnace of a steel mill: cold, hard and mechanical (but in a good way).
This release houses two expertly crafted and well-executed tunes that sit well in the current wave of minimal drum & bass. This stripped-down approach leads to a lack of standout qualities, but nonetheless, these functional DJ tools sit well in the mix and mark this trio out as a talent to keep an eye on.
Tracklist A Canopy
B Remorse