Sam Binga and Rider Shafique return to Critical in their usual atypical style, smudging the lines between dancehall, hip-hop and US club music with three vocal-driven sonic killers.
‘Bamboo’ is pure dancehall, with a stabbing bashment rhythm ridden by a slack set of lyrics from Rider that would do Vybz Kartel proud.
Title track ‘Get Down Low’ calls on Cardiff rapper Magugu to elevate a moody lesson in club-ready 808s.
Finally, ‘Vendetta’ takes things fully West Coast, with Teklife producer Taso linking Binga on the beats and San Francisco’s MicahTron joining Rider on the mic.
The Remixes
Sam Binga and Rider Shafique’s most recent three-track outing for Critical gets the remix treatment courtesy of two of D&B’s finest producers and enigmatic Bristolian beatsmith Yuseemi.
First up, Enei reworks ‘Bamboo’ in dance-floor friendly style, with a classic ’90s drooping bassline and tough two-step drums laying out the framework for Rider’s gruff vocals.
Rising star En:vy follows a run of solid releases for Critical with yet another impressive showcase of his own unique sonic style, flipping title track ‘Get Down Low’ into the tightest of D&B grooves.
Finally, Yuseemi slows the tempo and gets busy with ‘Vendetta’, softening the boldly American influence of the original into a weirder, more intriguing and distinctly UK-sounding track.
