Burial – ‘Rival Dealer’ EP (stream)

While the amount of tracks on Burial releases has decreased, the amount of ideas hasn’t; the output has steadily gotten denser, track times longer, though not any less hook-laden or compelling. That trend continues today with the release of the Rival Dealer EP digitally on Hyberdub.

Every bit as dark in parts as previous Burial material, there are nonetheless notes of hope here that haven’t been explored to this degree on previous releases. “Rival Dealer” sticks mostly to the script, but the EP’s other two tracks explore some uncharted territory. “Hiders” borders on ballad-esque, and the massive “Come Down to Us” focuses more on its bright, wistful samples than the usual stuttery drum workout. Identity, particularly gender identity, figures largely into the sampled material, and the sequencing makes the EP as a whole read as a story of transformation.

Stream the entire EP below, or purchase it in MP3 or WAV form through Hyperdub.