The Rust Music - RUST100
RUST100 on: Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music, more…
The Rust Music on: Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter / X, Youtube
About RUST100
At the height of 2017, The Rust Music took on its second, present life as a music label, publication, and event promotion company. With little more than gumption and a vision, nearly 9 years of dedication turned into the extraordinary honor of hosting 99 EPs and LPs from a global variety of producers, musicians, and creatives. Now, just shy of our 9 year anniversary, we're ecstatic to unveil our 100th label release: RUST100, compiled in celebration of this milestone.
At 45 tracks, this compilation represents a plurality of our close friends, family, associates, and contemporaries that have thrown their weight in with our operation at some point through the last decade. Stretching from downtempo and trip-hop motifs to modern bass music, garage, and beyond, every composition feels like another cornerstone in the foundation of The Rust’s overall palette. The cast of characters we had the privilege to tap for this compilation is nothing short of a dream team, featuring the likes of Chalky and Seppa, Primate, Easyjack, Zonra, parkbreezy, and another 40 or so members of our extended universe of sound.
Whether you're just tuning into The Rust Music for the first time, or you've been with us since our nascent days on Brooklyn rooftops, RUST100 is the next definitive source for our collective grooves and hues in electronic music, and we can't wait for you to dive in.
Credits
Compiled by Malakai Linden
Artwork by Alex Carro
Design by Malakai Linden
All music was composed and produced by the credited artist(s) unless otherwise noted.
Mastering by Adam Ovoid (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12, 13, 18, 21, 24, 28, 31), Joshua Kipersztok (34, 43), Malakai Linden (17), & Sandy Finlayson (8, 23, 45). All other tracks were self mastered or organized by the artist.
MALAKAI - Odd Views
With sharper edges, elevated sound design and a new posse of collaborators, MALAKAI comes correct on his fourth EP, Odd Views. It’s been more than two years since the New York City-based producer first released with The Rust, but in some ways it feels like a lifetime ago.
On these four tracks it’s plain to hear that MALAKAI’s sound design and songwriting have improved and his intent has sharpened. The sonic material itself isn’t revolutionary, but the subtle ways he moves and shapes the sounds gives attitude to the songs. Strong as ever is MALAKAI’s ability to communicate a feeling with melody, harmony, and note choice. Only now, the feelings are different. He’s deviated ever so slightly from his usual earthy, acoustic, mystical motifs. The void that remains is filled with something grittier, more urban, more direct.
His friends have changed, too, It’s reflected in the posture of this EP, which features Thought Process, pheel., and cuts from Bogtrotter. These producers, who are heavily influenced by hip-hop, deliver great bounce and buoyancy on their features. It’s still MALAKAI’s signature sound - grazing along, moving forward with swing and without haste. Not quite glitch hop, not quite dub, not quite hip-hop, but a home brew with all these ingredients. The edges are again sharper, the movements more crisp. There’s less to think about and more to groove on.
MALAKAI - Saros [New Cycle]
Art: Jesse Wheaton
Coming back around for its second pass through the gauntlet, MALAKAI’s methodically sculpted Saros EP has been remixed and reimagined by a select cadre of forward-thinking producers on Saros [New Cycle]. Primate., pheel., Foxtail, and wiseyoungfool bring forth unique flavors of experimentation on each respective remix.
From wildly enhanced percussive movements to fresh synthesis and juggled arrangements, each producer has spared no effort unleashing a renewed creative wave over Saros. Having no mind to miss out on all the fun, MALAKAI also snuck in a VIP of “My Middle Name..“, reinvigorating the track from the top down with a fresh lease of life. Considering each new take falls in line with the MALAKAI ethos, fans of his original catalog will thoroughly enjoy the musings on Saros [New Cycle].
MALAKAI & wiseyoungfool - Captain's Quarters
Art: Only Motif
Here's a freebie from MALAKAI and wiseyoungfool to celebrate 2,000 followers on SoundCloud, and as a special thanks to everyone whose been supporting The Rust Music.
MALAKAI - Saros
Art: Jesse Wheaton
What tends to separate electronic producers in a vast sea of equivalency is their approach to musicality; the tonality, notation, instrumental dialogue, and sonic color palette chosen by particular artists are what sets them apart from the pack.
MALAKAI breathes that methodology tenfold, and his most recent release, Saros should make that lucid to those not in the know. A choice blend of downtempo and glitch hop, abrasiveness is left at the door in favor of curating a soothing journey full of melodious interplay, expert percussion programming,