While half the world is out there doing important stuff like having a job, raising children or helping the homeless — big deal, right? — the rest of us are waiting in huddled groups for a new Burial release. Well, the time to rejoice is now because news surfaced earlier this week via Kode9 on Twitter that a release dubbed Kindred EP is imminent and set for both a vinyl and digital outing. Additionally, and more relevant to those of us with shallow pockets, it will also “def be less than 25 quid”, a comment referring to the inflated price of the recent Massive Attack remixes.
Anyway, my initial reading of the news was more exhilarating than the time Tommy Tucker told me Brucey Wammond had broken his arm playing hockey and therefore wasn’t able to beat me up after school, but it was nothing compared to this morning when I woke up to receive a clip of a tune from the EP titled ‘Ashtray Wasp’. Played last night on Hyperdub’s Rinse FM show, it’s only a snippet of what Scratcha DVA assures us is an 8 minute track, but it’s still exciting to hear. I’m sure there will be people telling me not to wet my pants just because it’s something by Burial, but seriously, have a listen and get back to me.
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Full details were released today regarding the much anticipated collaboration between Massive Attack and Burial and the internet has received the news more giddily than a fat kid on ice skates chasing a pukka pie. The two-track single features a reworking of ‘Paradise Circus’ from 2010′s Heligoland and a lavish revision of a previously unheard track, ‘Four Walls’. These are not going to be your standard, add a beat, some reverb, distort some vocals and jump around remixes though — not that Burial ever does such things, but you know what I mean — they’re twelve minute epic journeys into the depths of your darkest moments. They will swallow you whole and gnaw at the bones of your very existence… Ok, so I’m being dramatic, but ‘Four Walls’ is a sumptuous offering and some dedicated headphone time is required to really appreciate it and I’m assuming ‘Paradise Circus’ is equally beautiful. Trust me, have a listen and your shrinking heart will thank me.
In terms of purchasing information, it’s a limited release so only 1000 copies will be available worldwide and…well…it’s £25 too, which is a lot but isn’t completely horrendous, I mean that’s like one happy meal at current McDonalds prices. YEAH I SAID IT. SCREW YOU MCDONALDS! You can pre-order the vinyl over at VF Editions.
The recent Thom Yorke, Burial and Four Tet collaboration didn’t quite go down as well as expected and rather than bask in a wave of praise, it languished in an uncertain pool of hmmm. Thankfully, Monday sees the release of the first Burial solo material in four years and having been partially played on Benji B’s Radio One show last night, I can confirm that it is pretty damn good. Entitled Street Halo, the three track EP sounds a lot less cluttered than the likes of ‘Mirrors’ and rumoured as a precursor to Burial’s next album, is rather exciting to behold. Weightless yet epic, it’s exactly the kind of lo-fi genius we’ve come to expect from the secretive South London producer. Buy it? Buy it.
It’s official, The XX have won arguably the most revered award in British music, the Mercury Music Prize. Beating bookies favourite Paul Weller the London trio also fought off competition from the likes of Biffy Clyro, Mumford & Sons and Foals. This is kind of out of sync with the other news I usually post here, but I thought I’d comment on it because I think they really deserve it. The Mercury may have lost some of its clout in recent years, last year’s event and eventual choice — Speech Debelle’s Speech Therapy — was widely criticised, but there is still an artistic significance to the prize and I believe The XX epitomise what it stands for. The album which clinched the accolade XX is a charmingly minimal record which stands in contrast to the flood of washed out, over-complicated offerings that have overrun the mainstream in recent times. It’s the opposition that makes it stand out and the sheer quality which ultimately endures. Let’s hope the panel makes an equally informed choice next year because to be honest I’m still hurting from the way they shunned Burial in 2008.
Hmm, I feel a bit strange, I’ve written a post and not sworn or debased myself in some way…shit.
Compatriot of Tes La Rok, Desto is one of the few Finnish dubstep producers to hit the peripheries of the international scene. Making music that sounds like Burial and Ramadanman dropped in the middle of a deserted metropolis during a nuclear winter, it provokes all kinds of futuristic reverie. Mesmerising, melodic and seriously addictive, this stuff makes you feel like you’re mainlining essence of perfection.
‘Broken Memory’ is the b-side to the forthcoming release of ‘Disappearing Reappearing Ink’, which is set to drop on Ramp Recordings as RAMP027 some time this month. An unknown benefactor sneaked me an mp3, so grab a taste of genius below. But seriously, go and buy this, it’s huge.
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Burial and the man before Burial, garage legend and dubstep pioneer El-B, are conspiring to collaborate on an upcoming compilation release dubbed Nu-Levels. Due to drop on El-B’s imprint, Ghost Recordings, in April, El told Fact mag that the release will feature “Zed Bias, Burial, El-B, Narrows, MRK-1, Luke Envoy, Heny-G, J da Flex plus three new artists: Yoof, Karmine, Opus” as well as a host of vocal talent.
The motivation behind the record is that all the heads at the label “were just so sick of strong 12” releases and a constant stream of weak dubstep albums with two good tracks”, so I guess they just decided it was time for something better. Hopefully it’ll be considerably more enjoyable than Caspa’s Everybody’s Talking, Nobody’s Listening. I don’t care what anybody says about that god damn album, it’s shit and every copy deserves to be melted into slag and buried in a volcano. Apart from that ‘Lon-Don City’ track…that’s pretty cool…
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