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Zomby is a product of his surroundings. The British electronic music producer has been exploring the musical tradition of the UK '80s and '90s rave sub-scenes, from jungle and drum 'n' bass to later, and incorporating these alongside UK garage spirit and dubstep modernization. His take on these genres, and his incorporations of diverse sounds to further an electronic music vision has caught the attention of a number of labels, through which he has released full-length albums. Following his seminal debut Where Were U In '92?, he released two albums, Dedication and With Love through 4AD, before releasing 2016's Ultra through Hyperdub. Now he returns with a blast from the past in Mercury's Rainbow, that comes with a touch of nostalgia.

Zomby's new album is not especially new, as it features unreleased material dating back to 2008 and can be considered the missing chapter between his debut and Dedication. While the stylistic side has not significantly mutated through the years, Mercury's Rainbow is much more direct in its perspective, finding Zomby much closer to his Wiley influences than on his later works. The whole record is a love letter to eskibeat, and that is directly obvious from the texture of the synths, which take on an ethereal and expansive characteristic. Coming in as waves they produce an otherworldly environment, centered around the heavy and direct percussive elements. "Waterfall of Ice" displays an almost soothing quality before it traverses to darker territories, while the title track features an expansive collage of synthetic sounds. - Pop Matters