Critical is the brainchild of producer, DJ and all-round-good-D&B-egg Kasra. Started out of frustration at the lack of quality tune filtering being practiced by some major imprints, the label has gradually gathered pace through carefully selected releases and now occupies a unique, hard-fought and respected place in the drum n bass scene. At a time when new labels were started on a daily basis and failing after three months, Kasra put his all into the imprint and stood firm, the label's success proving a testament to his ability to rise above the negative context and turn what seemed like inevitable failure into a sweet success.

As Critical has grown, so has its reputation and popularity. Prominent producers such as Calibre, Silent Witness, Break, Breakage, Chris Su, Bungle, and D.Kay sought a release on the label resulting in several of their tracks being signed and unleashed onto the vinyl market. 2008 sees the first exclusive talent signing to Critical in the form of bright young thing producer Inside Info, whose huge sound will be unleashed on the listening public for on the first ever Critical EP, Critical Sound, due for release in September 2008.

2007 saw label boss Kasra putting his A&R skills to the ultimate test with the first Critical album project. Released in October 2007, The All Sounds Electric album featured the talents of Break, Silent Witness, Calibre and Dkay, among others. The project got five star reviews across the music press and was one of Knowledge Magazines top albums of the year. In October 2008 the follow up, All Sounds Electric 2 hits the streets. With tracks from Vicious Circle, Marcus Intalex, Commix, Inside Info and more as well as an accompanying mix CD, the new release might even steal the march on its 2007 predecessor.

Already this year, Critical has put out the massive Lost Hours by Icicle, Endless by Sabre & Vicious Circle and Alibi by Spectrasoul. With tracks from Survival due imminently and Bungle due in Autumn, plus the brand new Critical EP (Critical Sound) featuring the production skills of Break, Loxy & Naibu, Inside Info and Lomax & Kasra and the second All Sounds Electric due in November, this looks to be a bumper (and hard working!) year for the Critical team.