Crustation was formed in Bristol, England, by Ian Dark, Stig Manley, and Mark Taylor, who had been collaborating for over a year before adding Irish vocalist Bronagh Slevin in 1995; the trio combined electronic production with live instrumentation. Their breakthrough came with two vinyl EPs released prior to their debut album, Bloom, which was issued in 1997 under the Zomba label and produced by Steve Osborne and Ben Hillier; the ten tracks displayed a melancholic, dream‑like aesthetic and were performed live to emphasize a natural connection distinct from the urban trip‑hop scene. Subsequent releases included the Purple EP in 1997, and the group issued singles and remixes, notably a collaboration with the French electronica band Air. Despite critical praise, Crustation did not achieve significant chart success and did not release further albums; the group eventually disbanded, leaving Bloom as their sole studio album.
