Kryptic Minds

Ten years since they formed, 2009 marks a turning point in the disturbed mental explorations of Kryptic Minds. Having built an enviable back catalogue of dark, deadly drum & bass, the production duo of Simon Shreeve & Brett Bigden have quickly established a foothold in the exploding global dubstep scene momentum and release.

As the flagship artists on Loefah DMZ’s label Swamp 81, their 12”s and album “One of Us” continue dubstep’s tradition for stone-cold halfstep, flying against the dancefloor’s natural urges for momentum and release. Instead they unleash fearsome sub bass assaults that lead listeners into an edgy otherworld and have become staples of sets by halfstep innovator Youngsta (Rinse FM) as well as Loefah himself.

The sound produced by Kryptic Minds acknowledges the difference between edgy and too angry; that restraint often has more impact than chaotic release. This deft understanding of the tensions and contradictions buried within dubstep, and how you use them is played out yet further on their new album “One of Us". Whereas some albums try to cover many different moods, tempos and directions, the album zooms in on edgy 140bpm halfstep, forcing the listener into a headspace where perfectly placed details come into vivid focus, like the hyper-real intensity of night adrenalin. Everything is taughtly coiled, as if priming the listener for a flight-or-fight reflex. The tension is barely unleashed throughout the album.

Kryptic Minds, then just Simon, first gained prominence in the drum & bass scene when Andy C’s Ram subsidiary Frequency released ‘The Truth’, quickly earning itself anthem status. The track’s success brought Simon new creative opportunities: it was at this time Simon and Leon Switch began a long and fruitful production partnership. Together the duo released tracks on some of the drum & bass scene’s flagship labels, such as Penetration, Renegade Hardware, Tech Freak, Freak Recordings, and Goldie’s seminal Metalheadz. They also established their own label Defcom Records, on which they released 27 singles, including ‘Take the Pain Away’ and ‘No Escape,’ as well as their debut album, the drum & bass opus “Lost All Faith.” 2007 saw it declared by ATM magazine as one of the best drum & bass albums of all time. It was also at this time they set up new label Osiris Music UK, to release a wide range of music.

Inspired by Mala, Digital Mystikz, Loefah and Burial, Kryptic Minds rediscovered their musical faith through dubstep, followed by the establishment of creative alliances with halfstep dons Youngsta and Loefah. One of Loefah’s classic’s “Root” received the Kryptic Minds remix treatment. They also played at one of dubstep’s most hallowed institutions, DMZ. The future’s dark, the future’s Kryptic Minds.