Releases & reviews 15 h agoAdd to bookmarks
After his recent dubstep excursions, the Austrian En:vy lays down two drum & bass funk-soaked sides on Critical Music. Five years after his first release for the label, the signature remains recognizable.
Critical Music is releasing on 2026-07-20 « Love Talk / Boss Fight », a two-tracker by En:vy (often stylized Envy), an Austrian producer from the roster. This is an explicit return to Critical after recent releases qualified as « lauded » on the dubstep side by the label's announcement - a return, therefore, to DnB.
Critical presents the release as a return to the « unique, funk-soaked sonic signature » of the producer, forged since his first release for the label « nearly five years ago ». This is the interesting reference point: Critical positions this release as a reminder of Envy's funk-soaked voice, not as a turn.
Two tracks, one gesture: this is the classic 12" format of the Critical singles catalog. On the scale of the label, the release fits into the recent line-up - Enei « Warehouse / Routine », Kasra × JoSoSick « Mood », the compilation « Critical Soundsystem vol.1 » - which has consolidated over the past few weeks the neuro / rolling / warehouse-ready card of the catalog. Envy brings his funk nuance: less frontal threat, more swing in the breaks and a more melodic bass signature. This is consistent with what Critical publicly documents about its roster: each producer keeps his voice, the label does not smooth them out.
To be verified upon listening: does the « Boss Fight » part really assume the title in a dancefloor banger mode, or is it Envy who keeps his swing on both sides? Based on the label announcement alone, we have a solid return of signature, not a risk-taking. Must listen if you follow the Critical catalog; solid if you're just looking for the DnB release of the week.
Critical Music : catalogue, compilations et virages