2017: The Camo & Krooked takeover continues to permeate every corner of the electronic music landscape as they take their unique sound to uncharted pastures. Two successful singles, one high profile remix of Noisia, one Essential Mix and a non-stop world tour into 2017, the Austrian music-producer A-listers now present the most critical releases of their career…

After three long years of the deepest studio craft they’ve ever committed to, Camo (Reini) & Krooked (Markus) are about to deliver their most unifying, high profile vocal track ‘LIKE I DO’ with fellow Vienna artist and runaway songwriter sensation James Hersey. Then, on June 23, they will finally unveil their most startling, detailed and singular body of work yet – ‘MOSAIK’.

Their fourth album since emerging in 2007, ‘MOSAIK’ is a pivotal document that elevates Camo & Krooked’s creative credentials, vision and technique to brave new levels. The result of years of studio hibernation, studying vintage analogue instruments, honing their instantly distinctive signature, songwriting skills and, in Markus’s case, even finding their own singing voice, ‘MOSAIK’ galvanizes the duo’s position as one of the most exciting, unique, innovative and in-demand acts in electronic music.

This career-defining chapter of their ever-evolving journey began in November 2016 with the critically-received two-track release: ‘IF I COULD / EMBER’. Released on their own Mosaik Musik imprint (a label they run mutually with Ram and BMG), these were the first fresh sounds from the duo since 2013 and were heralded as instant classics. Carefully and cleverly balancing the signature the duo have gradually grafted and crafted since day one with hints that they’d evolved once again, the release lit the fuse for an explosive wave of milestones and moments that rumble to this day…

Sparks began flying in February with the first of two key releases: First their premiership iced-soul remix of Noisia’s remarkable ‘THE ENTANGLED’. Then another teaser for MOSAIK – the dusty sunset soul of ‘GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES’ and the delicate, dreamy soft focus stepper ‘HONESTY’ (which Markus/Krooked sings himself). These major releases have been backed up by an impeccable, detail-rich Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1 and a non-stop run of headline dates throughout the year including key events such as Let It Roll, Tomorrowland, Dour, We Are FSTVL, National Drum & Bass Awards, Fabric, Hospitality, Foundry, Detonate, Noisia Invites and their own festival Nuforms, Austria’s only drum & bass two-day festival which they personally curate.

It’s clear that even now - 10 years, four albums and more than 50 singles deep into the partnership - Reini and Markus are only just beginning to embrace the scale of what can be achieved in the vast electronic playground. A decade of micro snapshots of broken pieces has set the foundations, each one hinting at their capabilities, now a macroscopic view falls into place, revealing something much more beautiful: ‘MOSAIK’

A picture that will take as many listens to appreciate every nuance and detail as it took them hours to make; ‘MOSAIK’ deserves ‘opus’ classification. Every listen reveals more elements, instruments and dots to join; orchestral tension, loose-limbed jazz, cosmic techno, delicate provocative electronica all provide strong shades in ‘MOSAIK’s spellbinding collage. The canvas is drum & bass. But within this framework are fusions, motifs and ideas that are much harder, if not impossible, to succinctly file.

Their roots are everything. No matter how far and wide Camo & Krooked develop their ideas, compositions and studio technique, they remain grounded in their drum & bass roots and have never once alienated or confused their loyal fanbase as they’ve embraced other tempos, textures and terrains. It’s fanbase that has grown with them as they’ve worked with some of the most seminal and respected labels in their field (Hospital, Shogun Audio, Breakbeat Chaos, Viper) and striven the ranks of one of electronic music’s most competitive and technically profound genres.

‘MOSAIK’ is indeed the most critical release of their career so far. But as the dust settles and they set their sights on even further uncharted pastures, you already know that the next 10 years of their journey will be even bigger…

Live
15/07 – Dour – Dour Festival
28/07 – Boom – Tomorrowland

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