Angry Apple - Crispin.
Label: Cold Busted.
Format: Vinyl.
With the release of ‘Crispin’ on the legendary instrumental hip hop and downtempo label Cold Busted, the producer known as Angry Apple makes a major splash with his much-anticipated debut album.
While Angry Apple has been quietly dropping atmospheric singles and EPs for years, ‘Crispin’ is the album his legion of fans knew he was capable of recording. It’s his first full full-length statement, and a mighty impressive one at that. ‘Crispin’ is a fourteen track album that showcases a signature blend of raw, texturised beats and deeply refined mood-setting.
It’s a masterclass in dusty, instrumental hip-hop and lo-fi beats. True to the Cold Busted’s signature aesthetic, the project blends raw, MPC-driven drum programming with late-night jazz cuts, warm ambient blankets, and deeply refined moods. Here is a track-by-track breakdown of how this fourteen track sonic journey unfolds:
A-Side.
‘7393B3 (8pm)’ is the perfect curtain-raiser. Set to a timestamp that feels exactly like twilight, this track introduces the record with crackling vinyl hiss, a slow-creeping bassline, and warm Rhodes piano chords. It establishes the hazy, home-studio atmosphere immediately.
‘A8 Shuttle’ moves at a slightly prodded tempo, this track evokes the feeling of staring out the window of a late-night commuter train. The drums are crisp, paired with a repeating, hypnotic melody loop that grounds you into the groove.
‘Loook’ is one of the standout tracks on side one. It features a beautifully chopped jazz sample that slips slightly behind the beat. This gives it that unquantised, human feel. It’s a head-nodding, intricately layered, and deeply nostalgic sounding track.
‘Oxygeneration’ slows the pulse down, breathing spacious, atmospheric ambient pads over a punchy, heavy kick-drum. It feels lighter than the preceding tracks, acting as a breath of fresh air for the mid-album stretch.
‘Dream02’ Is short, sweet, and floating. Living up to its name, Dream02 plays like a hazy vignette. It leans heavily into warm synth filters and reverb-soaked melodies that drift across the soundscape before dissolving.
‘Ergo’ returns to a more classic, boom-bap rhythmic structure. The drum texture here feels incredibly raw and tactile, driving forward a looping, melancholic horn or string phrase that lingers long after the track ends.
‘Fading’ marks the literal midpoint of the record, Fading features a gorgeous, downcast melody that mimics the feeling of physical exhaustion or slipping into sleep. The highs are rolled off perfectly, giving it a beautifully muted, underwater texture.
B-Side
‘Hugs’ is, without doubt, the emotional high point of the B-side. It introduces a cozy, soul-infused vocal snippet or chord progression that wraps completely around the listener. It’s incredibly comforting and showcases Angry Apple's ability to inject genuine warmth into synthetic patterns.
‘Cloudy Day’ is the longest cut on the album at nearly four minutes. It gives the producer room to breathe and build, layering rainy-day field recordings beneath an evolving jazz-guitar loop and a crisp, snapping snare.
‘Ubak’ shifts the energy slightly, utilising a bouncing, syncopated bass groove. The percussion details here are intricate, littered with subtle rimshots and shakers that keep the ears locked in.
‘Spirit Water’ is a fluid, cascading track driven by shimmering keys that mimic the motion of water. It leans into a more chilled, meditative zone, stripping back the aggression of the drums to let the melodic ambiance lead the way.
‘When I Wake Up’ is the morning-after track. After a long sequence of late-night moods, this slice offers a slightly brighter, waking-up perspective. The melody is optimistic, framed by a classic, dusty drum loop that feels incredibly grounding.
‘Freezy 99’ is a playful, slightly colder texture. This track relies on crisp, metallic percussion hits and a sharp, rhythmic synth loop. It’s an energetic, rhythmic palette cleanser just before the grand finale.
‘Night Feels’ is the ultimate closing statement. It loops the record right back into the darkness where it started. Leaving you with a gorgeous, sprawling, late-night groove, it rings out with ambient hiss and a lingering sense of peace.
It’s no exaggeration to say that ’Crispin’ is a phenomenal debut album from the truly talented Angry Apple. It’s an album that balances raw MPC grittiness with elegant, late-night jazz arrangements. ’Crispin’ a cohesive, beautifully paced listen that firmly cements Angry Apple as an exciting new voice in the lo-fi beat scene.
Angry Apple - Crispin.
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