Rustie – Green Language – (Warp)

It’s quite clear this was not a difficult second album experience for Rustie, who picks up where he left off in the heady energy of his ‘Glass Sounds’ debut. Here the sense of euphoria is just as keen, and Rustie is keen to establish a signature sound that brings together older, rave-derived loops and a new, more innovative approach to rhythm. Often Rustie will give the impression he is moving at great speed, but take the rhythm on its own and it hasn’t actually broken out into a full on sweat. This gives a lot of his tracks a unique kind of tension, while when the rhythm does break out more – as it does in ‘Raptor’ – the effect is thrilling. There are more vocals this time too, with D Double E‘s contribution to ‘Up Down’ especially good, and Face Vega fuelling an overblown form of R&B in ‘He Hate Me’. So while not a huge amount has changed in the overall Rustie sound – which might be a problem as the years advance – it is immediately recognisable as the work of someone who’s channelling all his energy into his music.

4 out of 5

Reviewed By Ben Hogwood

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