Critical Music label head Kasra MowlaviName: Critical Music
Vibe: Critical pushes the kind of tunes HAL 9000 plays as he sweet-talks your iPad over for a booty call.
Founded: 2002
Location: Based out of North London, but the artists featured ranged from the British midlands to Austria.
Claim to Fame: They mob Fabric's Room Two with regularity and will take on the exalted Room One (once again) in May.
Recent Releases: Underground Sonics is a sparkling state-of-the-label. The Hello World EP from Emperor & Mefjus just dropped. It will diddle your brain.
Artist to Watch: Emperor—the 20-year-old is already a leading light on Critical, but his Jackhammer EP on Inspected (Koan Sound, Zeds Dead, Culprate) takes on a wholly different, hip-hop flavored party bass stance. Do not sleep!What's the deal?
While Ram and Hospital are among the most established UK drum & bass labels, upstart imprint Critical has tussled itself into contention by pushing a sound that is both cerebrally engaging and viscerally moving. Label boss, DJ, and producer (in that order) Kasra Mowlavi founded the Critical imprint in his parents' North London front room in 2002. The label spent its first ten years forging a deep catalog of heady, dark, forward-facing breakbeat music, and then went into overdrive in the new decade with releases from acts like Enei, Foreign Concept, Mefjus and Emperor. They're poised to take the step up from hipster's choice and underground darlings to leaders in the club scene.
Vibe: Critical pushes the kind of tunes HAL 9000 plays as he sweet-talks your iPad over for a booty call.
Founded: 2002
Location: Based out of North London, but the artists featured ranged from the British midlands to Austria.
Claim to Fame: They mob Fabric's Room Two with regularity and will take on the exalted Room One (once again) in May.
Recent Releases: Underground Sonics is a sparkling state-of-the-label. The Hello World EP from Emperor & Mefjus just dropped. It will diddle your brain.
Artist to Watch: Emperor—the 20-year-old is already a leading light on Critical, but his Jackhammer EP on Inspected (Koan Sound, Zeds Dead, Culprate) takes on a wholly different, hip-hop flavored party bass stance. Do not sleep!What's the deal?
While Ram and Hospital are among the most established UK drum & bass labels, upstart imprint Critical has tussled itself into contention by pushing a sound that is both cerebrally engaging and viscerally moving. Label boss, DJ, and producer (in that order) Kasra Mowlavi founded the Critical imprint in his parents' North London front room in 2002. The label spent its first ten years forging a deep catalog of heady, dark, forward-facing breakbeat music, and then went into overdrive in the new decade with releases from acts like Enei, Foreign Concept, Mefjus and Emperor. They're poised to take the step up from hipster's choice and underground darlings to leaders in the club scene.