Selfie-advocate AND talented

Burial‰’s material is so scarcely released that, at this point, every EP, every single, every selfie, is followed with a firestorm of coverage from every corner of the ‰electronic‰’ music community, and rightfully so. His string of EP‰’s released over the past three years or so have each been as substantive as any album he‰’s ever produced, each pushing the boundaries of what is considered Burial‰’s style. His newest release, Rival Dealer, is a bit of a shift, incorporating elements of breakbeat, spoken word, and 80‰’s synthpop into his typically emotional and gritty style. These influences have always been there in his output, but they are truly in full effect here, with the second track “Hiders‰” particularly jarring to those used to his older sound. However, the gut punch of the emotional impact from Burial’s music has never been stronger or more intense, and one only needs to listen to less than a minute of the first track to be absolutely devastated by the vocal samples. The vinyl pops, the throbbing bass synth, and the complicated, cutting beats everyone loves and has come to expect from Burial are here, along with a redirection that keeps his music interesting and innovative.

RIYL: Four Tet, Shlomo, Boards of Canada, Oneohtrix Point Never
Recommended Tracks: 1