Pessimist is Bristol producer Kristian Jabs, whose music draws drum and bass into close contact with techno. His productions often work with sparse arrangements and an emphasis on rhythm and atmosphere, an approach his publisher describes through the relationship between jungle and techno.
His self-titled debut album appeared on Blackest Ever Black in 2017. He is also associated with Ruffhouse and the founding circle of UVB-76 Music. The label’s Burundanga EP returned him to drum and bass in 2019, bringing three original tracks together with a Simon Shreeve remix of Paian.
His own Pessimist Productions catalogue extends into joint work with Karim Maas and the Boreal Massif project. In 2026 he returned to UVB-76 with the Pony Boy Club EP, a four-track release that includes Pess One, NRG-97, and Under Surveillance.
