Crab Costume are an alternative electronica collaboration between British born, New York based producer Mars Kestrel and Oxford, UK based vocalist Asher Dust.
Mars and Asher originally worked together in the Oxford hip hop act Big Speakers and have reignited their musical relationship even though they are based on different sides of the Atlantic.
Tweets by CrabCostumeCrab Costume were featured on an edition 6 of PureMix Mix Fix Live! Watch Fab Dupont work his magic on the Crab Costume compisiton "Disaster"
“From the lyrics to the head-nodding beat to the catchy chorus ‘We See You’ makes me want to listen to more Crab Costume”
Kerem Gokmen, Dubmission, Radio Pittsburgh USA
Betterer/Disaster is the new single from Crab Costume. Betterer/Disaster was released on 14th May 2021 via the duo’s own Boo Boo Love Records and the release is the follow up to the duo’s debut single We See You, released in November 2020.
Following on from the fiery social commentary, heavy grooves and surrealist atmospheres of the debut We See You, Betterer comes out swinging with Asher’s heavy, soulful rumination on self-belief perfectly arranged over Mars’s deep bass groove, with a vibe reminiscent of early dubstep acts such as Skream mixed with a classic reggae influence. Disaster is a reference to a classic tale of love gone bad, and the epic guitar lines and dense synths evoke the Bristol trip hop sound of acts such as Tricky and Massive Attack.
As Asher sings on Betterer, this is “poetry with a b line” and with the release of Betterer/Disaster it’s inevitable that Crab Costume will keep reaching new hearts and minds further and further afield.
Check out the Premiere as featured on MonolithCocktail!
Cover-art by Ludwik Art
Listen on Bandcamp...
We See You is Crab Costume's debut single, it is a strident, musical statement of intent and was released on 20th November 2020 via the duo's own Boo Boo Love Records.
When asked about the lyrical theme for We See You, Asher explains: "my lyrics reflect the toxic, unhinged vibes going on in the world right now." The unhinged nature of the current situation is conveyed by Asher's deft mixing up of fiery social and political commentary contrasted with subtle Biblical references such as the mystical line "burning bush sequel".
Musically We See You is driven by Mars's trippy synth hooks and heavy beats and the production style has a debt to artists such as Run The Jewels and God Colony as well as classic acts such as Tricky and Gorillaz. We See You comes backed with a deep dub mix and is just the tip of the musical iceberg for what Crab Costume have instore for the world, watch this space for plenty more heavy grooves, surrealist atmospheres and biting social commentary.
Cover-art by Ludwik Art
Listen on Bandcamp...