KRUST Vinyl & CDs

Review: The one and only Krust makes beats like no other and has been out on a class of one since the beginning. He now makes a welcome return with a fourth instalment in his Irrational Numbers series on Wonder Palace Music, which gather together the glories of his 90s output which, at the time, were spread far and wide across many of the era's finest labels. It comes across four sides of vinyl and takes in his usual deft designs an innovative rhythms from the slick but jumpy minimal of the opener to the plug-in bass depths of 'Jazz Note II' via the tightly coiled funk of 'Not Necessarily A Man'. Another doozy from the drum & bass don.

Review: All hail King Krust, a true totem of d&b innovation from his earliest days right up to the present moment. The Irrational Numbers series on Wonder Palace is doing a sterling job of combing back through his monumental legacy as a key protagonist in the Bristol-rooted Full Cycle crew and there's so much heat a third double-LP volume doesn't feel anything close to excessive. On this edition we're getting treated to unbelievable workouts like his Gang Related production 'Rukus' and the widescreen scope of 'The Resister', a staggeringly visionary slice of hi-tech soul from 1993. There's just so much invention and expression on here, rightly confirming Krust's place in the d&b hall of fame.

Review: There's no need to explain the importance of Krust to jungle and drum & bass - the Bristol pioneer set new standards and has a legacy overflowing with next level invention and shock-out grooves. This compilation on Wonder Palace makes the case in no uncertain terms, taking a broad view over his work and delivering some stone cold classics alongside harder-to-find bits and pieces. What's apparent is how Krust build's vivid worlds within his tracks, not least on the widescreen classic 'Brief Encounters'. There are deadly rollers like 'Set Speed' and 'Maintain', dreamy deep-divers like 'Jazz Note' and so much more in between. If you want seven seminal joints from a true master, this comp has got you covered.

Review: Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated releases of 2020, legendary UK producer DJ Krust makes a comeback with his first release in 14 years, and rather surprisingly on Crosstown Rebels - of all labels. While we all know Damian Lazarus' established imprint is anything but drum and bass, it is well known that he was an early champion of the sound, long before his tenure at City Rockers in the early '00s when he embraced 'electroclash' - but that's another story. It's clear that Krust created some of the most seminal records in the genre throughout the nineties and noughties, and he is back in fine form on The Edge Of Everything, having explored radical new philosophies and creative processes. Minimalist arrangements as heard on tracks like 'Constructive Ambiguity' hark back to his signature sound of the aforementioned period, while he also explores more experimental minded beats as heard on 'Antigravity Love' and proper darkside rolling drama exemplified on 'Deep Fields Of Liars'.