Andy Crysell
Andy Crysell covered dance music, electronic and hip-hop for titles like NME, The Face, DJ and Muzik throughout the 90s, with occasional forays into indie and guitar. Later, he worked on dotcom start-ups and for advertising agencies, before launching his own insight and innovation agency, Crowd DNA.
82 articles
List of articles in the library
Leftfield: Bobbing to the top of The Next Big Thing List
Interview by Andy Crysell, Mixmag, January 1992
IT'S NOT often that a band with no definite plans for their next release, without even so much as a recording contract, land a page ...
LTJ Bukem: Various: LTJ Bukem Presents Logical Progression (ffrr/Good Looking/All formats)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 April 1996
FLOCK OF AGES ...
Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers: Larry Heard: Alien Dex Fiend
Profile and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 13 April 1996
WHO IS HE? LARRY HEARD ...
Everything But The Girl: Walking Wounded (Virgin/All formats)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 4 May 1996
MISSING INACTION ...
Jeff Mills: The Detroit Spinner
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 25 May 1996
IT'S 3AM AT The End, London's state-of-the-art nightclub. The apocalyptic sound system rams an earthquake beneath every kick-drum; the warning signs on the walls scream ...
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 15 June 1996
DO MOLOKO have something to hide? Is there something missing from their kooky take on trip-hop that can only be disguised by a vast dollop ...
De La Soul: Subterania, Ladbroke Grove, London
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 22 June 1996
SUMMERTIME AND inside west London's Subterania, at least, the living is far from easy. There is no air, no space, no escape; just raging heat ...
Josh Wink: Check Your Hedonism
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 14 September 1996
He doesn't smoke, drink or do drugs, he goes down the gym, never loses his temper and asks himself lots of deep life questions. Is ...
Arthur Baker, Afrika Bambaataa, New Order, Rockers Revenge: Arthur Baker: Baker Groove
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 28 September 1996
This week Vibes hops across to the Emerald Isle to hook up with one of the founding fathers of modern dance, the fabulous ARTHUR BAKER ...
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 28 September 1996
ENGLAND'S SCREAMING ...
Super Furry Animals: Astoria, London
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 5 October 1996
BAD BOYS MINK! ...
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 18 January 1997
With gangsta rap getting just a tad too "real" of late, NAS ESCOBAR comes as something of a relief. His last album, It Was Written ...
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 25 January 1997
ONE SOUND rings out above all others in DAFT PUNK's uncluttered office in Paris' beautiful Montmartre district. Not music but... whirr! A fax machine working ...
Daft Punk: Act De Triomphe: Daft Punk: The End, London
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 15 February 1997
NO QUESTION, it is the hottest ticket in town. A night on the tiles with Paris' new dance sensations — at a party hosted by ...
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 1 March 1997
SOME PEOPLE, eh? They're never satisfied. Incredibly, not even vast pop success is enough for these blighters. ...
Jay Z: Jaÿ-Z: Cabaret Club, Stockholm
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 March 1997
"YO! Give it up for Jaÿ-Z! Onstage for the first time in Sweden!" ...
Wu-Tang Clan: Unity Church, Compton CA
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 22 March 1997
SO THIS is what they mean when they say that going to gigs is like attending church. In LA's most notorious district, 800 souls are ...
Interview by Andy Crysell, Muzik, April 1997
SPOOKY. VERY spooky. It's 11 am in deepest Clapham and in a cafe full of wheezing old men and cackling women, Richard Fearless, the sharp-dressing ...
Fatboy Slim, The Housemartins: Fatboy Slim: The Norman Conquest
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 19 April 1997
In the beginning, he was a Housemartin. In between, he's been Pizzaman and a Mighty Kat. Now he's FATBOY SLIM. But no matter what NORMAN ...
Bentley Rhythm Ace: Blue Note, London
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 3 May 1997
BRUM PUNCH ...
Propellerheads: Whirlybird catches the worm
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 3 May 1997
They're the undisputed Kings Of The Slink! They're gonna be as big as the Chemicals! They've frustrated The Man! They're PROPELLERHEADS and they'll be raising ...
Squarepusher: Hard Normal Daddy (Warp/CD/LP)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 3 May 1997
TOM JENKINSON, the one-man band who is Squarepusher, has no doubt inherited many fine things from his Hard Normal Daddy. But being normal is most ...
Wu-Tang Clan: "Give us a chance to be truly wicked and we'll blow the whole shit up"
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 31 May 1997
So here we are in the wonderful and frightening world of Staten Island's Wu-Tang Clan. A formidable collective of renegade rappers well versed in everything ...
Sneaker Pimps: Young Sole Rebels
Interview by Andy Crysell, Vox, September 1997
Having shaken off the trip-hop tag, SNEAKER PIMPS believe they could be, actually, a bit goth. They're having us on, right? VOX catches up with ...
Mark Morrison: "They're gonna have to kill me to stop me and maybe one day they will"
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 13 September 1997
So did he really cry in court? Was he really petrified in jail? Or was it just all tabloid baloney? Self-proclaimed "Bad Boy of Pop" ...
Firm, The (Hip Hop), Foxy Brown, Nas: The Firm: Funky Mafia!
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 25 October 1997
It's an offer you can't refuse. The chance to meet Mafia-inspired hip-hop outfit THE FIRM – namely mobsters Nas, Foxy Brown and AZ — and ...
Roni Size and Reprazent: The best record of 1997
Interview by Andy Crysell, Muzik, November 1997
That's Roni Size and Reprazent's drum & bass classic New Forms. Or at least it is according to the Mercury Music Prize's panel of judges. ...
DJ Shadow: Oxford Brookes University
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 November 1997
IT'S ASKING a lot, of course, to hope that tonight, amid a boozed-up, loudmouthed, zany shirt-wearing crowd of freshers, DJ Shadow will come close to ...
Will Smith: Yuppify Guy!: Will Smith: Big Willie Style (Columbia)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 November 1997
HE'S COMIN' AT YA, loud and proud, mean and lean — straight outta, well, a palatial uptown apartment overlooking Central Park, probably. Heck, and he ...
Tupac Shakur: Shakur Moneymaker: 2Pac: R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (Jive)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 22 November 1997
WHEN LIAM GALLAGHER sees fit to offer out the likes of Damon Blur and George Beatle, he's risking… ooh, you never can tell, really. A ...
DJ Shadow: Camel Bobsled Race (Q-Bert Mega Mix) (Mo'Wax/CD/Tape)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 December 1997
ALL THIS SCRATCHING'S MAKING ME BITCH! ...
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 December 1997
She writes Number Ones! Makes "wacky" videos! Is, like, totally fly! And MISSY "MISDEMEANOR" ELLIOTT, rap's brightest new talent, has come to save us… ...
Asian Dub Foundation: Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Live Review by Andy Crysell, Muzik, January 1998
FUCK POLITICS, let's dance, yeah? What say we wiggle across the dancefloor, gobble up the chemicals and frug our worries clean away? ...
Report and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 10 January 1998
It's Sunday night and DAVD HOLMES, ARAB STRAP'S AIDAN MOFFAT and DAWN OF THE REPLICANTS' PAUL VICKERS are in a Brixton pub getting trousered and ...
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 17 January 1998
Qu'est-ce que c'est? Music that sounds like ELO jamming over a porn flick soundtrack — on the moon!? Oh yes indeedy, prepare to enter the ...
The High Llamas: Cold And Bouncy (Alpaca)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 24 January 1998
IT'D TAKE A lot to knock the chief Llama off course. Sean O'Hagan could probably stand at the end of a runway listening to Death ...
Les Rythmes Digitales: Vibes: Ooh, You Are Eiffel!
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 24 January 1998
VIBES PLAYS TRICOLORE OR TREAT WITH WALL OF SOUND'S ONE-MAN BIG-BEAT FACTORY LES RHYTHMES DIGITALES... ...
Add N to (X): Equation Plug Foundation
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 14 February 1998
They take their name from a mathematical formula, think electricity is God, want to form a 1,000-strong synth orchestra and play a millennium gig from ...
Dubstar: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 21 February 1998
IF A BUILDING could 'Tsk' the 'Tsk' of having seen it all before, this one would surely be doing it now. The Empire, after all, ...
Cornershop: Academy, Manchester
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 28 February 1998
MAGIC MASTERY TOUR ...
The Beta Band: Letter Men Show
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 7 March 1998
The music biz may be salivating over THE BETA BAND'S thrilling musical pot-pourri but the music biz can go whistle as far as the Beta ...
Cappadonna, Wu-Tang Clan: Cappadonna: Wu Who?
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 28 March 1998
Keep up! It's CAPPADONNA. You know, the latest of the Wu-Tang Clan to keep up the rapid onslaught of solo LPs from that camp. And ...
Retrospective and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 25 April 1998
Disco biscuits, gurning, raves, sartorial bonkersness, and, um, Guru Josh! The ACID HOUSE scene brought us many things when it exploded in 1988; it also ...
Massive Attack: The Next Level: Massive Attack: Mezzanine (Virgin) *****
Review by Andy Crysell, Vox, May 1998
Storming comeback from the Bristol sound system innovators ...
Thievery Corporation: Super sharp suiters
Interview by Andy Crysell, Muzik, May 1998
Smouldering bossa-nova, bespoke tailoring and white-collar audio criminality: are Washington DC's Thievery Corporation the new Kruder & Dorfmeister? Or just the new Corduroy? ...
Report by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 9 May 1998
Take an assorted bunch of like-minded skunk rockers, big beaters and eclectic groovers, ply with brain-curdling tequila'n'ale cocktails, and then put them out LIVE! on ...
Money Mark: Hanover Grand, London
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 9 May 1998
"MULLET!" YELLS a gobby punter, pointing at the member of Money Mark's band who sports the offending locks. "You've got a mullet!" And so begins ...
Mogwai: Kicking A Dead Pig (Eye Q)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 16 May 1998
THE FABULOUS BACON BOYS ...
Review by Andy Crysell, Vox, June 1998
Violently impressive debut from the new pop/funk/rap/punk/techno/everything else heroes ...
Money Mark: Push The Button (Mo'Wax)
Review by Andy Crysell, Muzik, June 1998
A QUICK recap: Money Mark used to be a carpenter. One day he was called out to mend the Beastie Boys' gate. They got on ...
Josh Wink: Herehear (Ovum/S2) **
Review by Andy Crysell, Muzik, July 1998
Original Philly dread returns from self-imposed hibernation ...
Carl Cox, Fatboy Slim: Ibiza: Big Beach Boutique
Report by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 15 August 1998
When Radio 1 decamped to Ibiza for a weekend of daft dancing, super funky anthems and celebs behaving badly, it seemed only polite for NME to join them. ...
RZA, Wu-Tang Clan: RZA Presents Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm Volume 1 (Wu-Tang Records)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 5 September 1998
BEES HERE NOW ...
Faithless: "It's not just fucking chirpy nonsense"
Interview by Andy Crysell, Muzik, October 1998
FAITHLESS are back, bigger, better and bolder than before. They say God is a DJ. He's probably a Faithless fan ...
Grooverider: Mysteries Of Funk (Higher Ground)
Review by Andy Crysell, Muzik, October 1998
The drum & bass veteran finally gets his arse into gear ...
112, Faith Evans, Puff Daddy, Total: Puff Daddy & The Family: Sound Republic, London
Live Review by Andy Crysell, Muzik, December 1998
Is this the greatest showman on earth? ...
Bob Marley & the Wailers, Lee "Scratch" Perry: Lee Perry: Lost Treasures Of The Ark (Jet Star)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 2 January 1999
BOOTY RECALL ...
Jay-Z: Volume 2... Hard Knock Life (Northwestside)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 16 January 1999
Z TOP! ...
Interview by Andy Crysell, Muzik, February 1999
Jay-Z samples the musical Annie, raps about champagne and has just spent five weeks at the top of the American album charts, and he still ...
4 Hero: Two Pages — Reinterpretations (Talkin' Loud)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 February 1999
JUNGLISTS AND wannabe jazz cats 4 Hero issued an album which veered from brilliant to noodly to downright dire last year. Here comes the inevitable ...
Big Daddy Kane: Veteranz Day (Blakjam)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 20 February 1999
THOSE WITH CD-ROM capability get an added bonus on Big Daddy Kane's latest comeback effort: the chance to visit 'Kane's Lair', a place of unconvincing ...
Basement Jaxx: London — Basement Jaxx
Report and Interview by Andy Crysell, The Face, March 1999
Stupid dancing in a dirty Camberwell pub ...
Atari Teenage Riot: 60 Second Wipe Out (Digital Hardcore)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 May 1999
There's A Riot Going On... and On ...
Snoop Doggy Dogg: Allez G!: Snoop Dogg: Top Dogg (Virgin)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 29 May 1999
WHEN SNOOP DOGG released his Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told album last autumn, more than just the Doggy part of ...
Regular Fries: 2000 and on one! On a mission with Regular Fries
Report and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 12 June 1999
A SUNNY DAY and therefore not a bad one to get conscripted into the Regular Fries' newly-formed supporters network, the Space Military. Though NME isn't ...
Lo Fidelity Allstars: Lo-Fidelity Allstars: Refugee Allstars
Report and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 19 June 1999
Lo-Fidelity Allstars claim to be the most jinxed band in the universe. Pah! Their singer may have quit, but they're back from the brink and ...
Fatboy Slim, Armand Van Helden: Fatboy Slim Vs Armand Van Helden: Brixton Academy, London
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 26 June 1999
SATURDAY FiGHT FEVER! ...
Mr. Scruff: Mr Scruff: Keep It Unreal (Ninja Tune)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 26 June 1999
WITH A four-year trail of often brilliantly wayward 12"s behind him, it's taken Manchester's Andy Carthy ages to release his debut album. He's no perfectionist, ...
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 4 September 1999
THE SCOUSE THAT JAXX THRILLED ...
Moloko: Beefa: How Low Can You Go?
Report by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 18 September 1999
Ibiza — sun-kissed vibes central or merely an over-commercialised supermarket for disco dudes 'n' dollies? With the help of Balearic housers Moloko, NME went in ...
Leftfield: Rhythm & Stealth (Hard Hands/Higher Ground)
Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 18 September 1999
PHATS WALLOW ...
Charlatans, The (UK): The Charlatans: Music Hall, Aberdeen
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 30 October 1999
BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME ...
Badly Drawn Boy: King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 6 November 1999
SHAMBOLICALLY DRESSED and scowling at his keyboard as if he hates its electronic guts, Damon Gough is supposedly a man with much to prove tonight. ...
Death In Vegas: They're Satanic Majesties: Death In Vegas: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 13 November 1999
HALLOWEEN has been and gone. So has Guy Fawkes' Night. But Death In Vegas don't care. ...
Sigur Ros: Iceland's Magical Visionaries
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 January 2000
ASK PARENTS on Iceland's northernmost shore, and they'll say the kids are alright when Sigur Ros arrive. Their trademark mix of gently persuasive confidence, humble ...
Macy Gray: There's Something About Macy: Macy Gray: Academy, Manchester
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 8 January 2000
WELCOME TO SONGS ABOUT "crazy love and all that shit". Dressed in electric blue, with her trademark wind-tunnel hair, flailing arms, happy-mad countenance and dance ...
Armand Van Helden: Professional Weirdo
Report and Interview by Andy Crysell, The Face, March 2000
He's the house DJ who loves hip hop, the pop star "at war" with his record label, the New York City boy who was born ...
King Biscuit Time: What's Up Duck
Profile and Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 17 June 2000
After "losing it big time" around the release of the Beta Band's ill-fated alburn, Steve Mason is back with another King Biscuit Time EP and ...
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 29 July 2000
Sit down, De La Soul want to tell you the greatest hip-hop story ever told… ...
Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Doggy Dogg: Suge Knight: Death Wish
Report by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 5 August 2000
His rise and his fall has been a story of violence, pig-headed machismo and ruthless determination. Currently biding his time in jail, Death Row boss ...
All Saints: Poor Shore: All Saints: Renaissance@Privilege, Ibiza
Live Review by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 19 August 2000
YOU'RE SUFFICIENTLY IMPORTANT that a huge illuminated cross adorns the stage this evening. You're on after the not-strictly-eye-grabbing Pete Tong; posters have been advertising your ...
Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Spiller Queen
Interview by Andy Crysell, New Musical Express, 19 August 2000
Once the pouting princess of indie pretension, is former Theaudience singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor really set to become the new diva darling of the Ibiza club ...
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