Rustie – Green Language

Rustie - Green Language

Being an electronic music producer was never a easy thing. In the past you were held in the background and fame was as far a dream as releasing your own album. In recent years this has changed and the producers share the spotlight with the artists they help create and define. Having their own work standing singularly for purchase and reception is also a thing of possibility. But still, you got to have something to say when you step out into the light and want your voice to be heard. 

In this matter, Rustie isn´t the most distinguished of the lot. His 2011 efford Glass Swords was a nice listen, many ideas and heavy beats convincing the idea of an artist to emerge and be part of this scene. However with Green Language there is the feeling of Rustie not knowing what exactly he wants to say. His music for the most part is at its best when it is frantic, fast and sharp. Best example here “Raptor”, full of energy and after four minutes and two tracks of introduction finally getting to the point. I can´t help but wonder, why not start the journey like this? The high rise of “Workship” and “A Glimpse” become extremely uninteresting over the course of the album and set boredom for were excitement follows. “Paradise Stone” falls vicitim to the same issue. I usually love interludes and short musically ideas. For many artists I even wish they would have expanded on their short idea before pushing the experience further. But here, the jungle/oriental sounds mixed in a kind of ambience only end up feeling weird. Especially for being immediately upset be “Up Down”. A track featuring the first of many vocal guest. Most of the time, introducing vocal guest seems close to lacking ideas or being self-conscious of the music speaking for itself. “Up Down” is a brash and eerie listen, and while D Double E brings a lot a personality, the instrumental itself feels disturbed by the rapping. 



Thankfully this notion is redeemed with “Attak”. None other than Danny Brown hops on this track and merges perfectly with the alarming synths, warped high hats and thumping bass line. This track is pure energy and here Rustie did well in inviting a guest and upping the energetic notion of the instrumental. After this high point, only lows follow. Most tracks feel unfinished and dwell in a strange kind of serenity, unfitting of its comprised elements. Some disco elements on “Let´s Spiral”, something dreamy akin to house music on “Velcro” and Rustie channeling his inner Susumu Yokota on “Lost”. The closer “Green Language” once again brings a rapper to the cause and feels all the more lost after all those variations. It is another example of an album suffering from its own parts and variety. 



Maybe Rustie should have decided if he wanted to give electronic for clubbing or jungle music for musing, or even should have used the whole record as instrumental canvas of the vocal artists of his choosing. Still there is much promise in what Rustie creates. Hopefully the next album will have him focus again in crafting a picture rather than a bunch of snapshots.

5/10