Rival Dealer
| Rival Dealer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by Burial | ||||
| Released | 11 December 2013 | |||
| Length | 28:39 | |||
| Label | Hyperdub | |||
| Producer | Burial | |||
| Burial chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone |  [2] |
| Consequence of Sound | [3] |
| Pitchfork Media | 9.0/10[4] |
| Resident Advisor | [5] |
| Slant Magazine | [6] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4.3/5[7] |
| XLR8R | 9/10[8] |
| NME | 9/10[9] |
Rival Dealer is the seventh extended play by British electronic music artist Burial. It was issued by record label Hyperdub and released digitally on 11 December 2013, with a physical release following five days later.
Background
On 2 December 2013, a Cargo Records distribution email revealed that record label Hyperdub would release a three-track EP of Burial material on 16 December in vinyl and CD formats, designated with the catalogue number HDB080.[5][10] His first release since Truant / Rough Sleeper the year prior, it was also revealed to have a 28-minute running time.[5] On 11 December, Hyperdub made the EP available to purchase digitally through their website and uploaded its three tracks – "Rival Dealer", "Hiders" and "Come Down to Us" – to YouTube.[11][12]
Themes
Unlike previous Burial releases, "Rival Dealer" maintains a significant theme throughout its 3 tracks. In a rare public message to the BBC Radio 6 show, Burial himself clarified that he wanted the songs to be "anti-bullying tunes that could maybe help someone to believe in themselves, to not be afraid, and to not give up, and to know that someone out there cares and is looking out for them." [13]
FACT magazine reviewer Tom Lea called the EP a story about love, confusion and relationships, citing the track "Come Down To Us" as a primary example. The track uses a sample from a speech by filmmaker Lana Wachowski at the 2012 Human Rights Campaign gala.[14]
Critical reception
Critical reception has been largely positive with Pitchfork rating the release 9.0, awarding it their 'best new music' accolade and noting a marked change in direction.[4] FACT magazine also noted the change in direction, and whilst giving the EP a very positive review, also acknowledged that it was the most divisive release by Burial so far.[14] Consequence of Sound rated the EP 4/5, singling out Hiders as being the most upbeat track ever released by Burial.[3] Resident Advisor rated the release 4/5, noting that the album, despite being a diverse moment in Burial's career, puts him in a new creative sweet spot.[15] NME also praised the EP Highly in their review giving it 9/10.[16]
Track listing
- "Rival Dealer" – 10:47
- "Hiders" – 4:44
- "Come Down to Us" – 13:08
References
- ↑ "Allmusic Review review".
- ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/rival-dealer-20131216
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "CoS review".
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Pitchfork review".
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "RA review".
- ↑ "Slant review".
- ↑ "Sputnikmusic review".
- ↑ "XLR8R review".
- ↑ http://www.nme.com/reviews/burial/15007. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "New Burial EP set for December release". NME (London). 2 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ↑ "Burial releases new EP Rival Dealer: buy it and stream audio now". Fact (London). 11 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ↑ "Stream Burial Rival Dealer EP in full". Fact (London). 11 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ↑ http://pitchfork.com/news/53347-burial-shares-message-about-rival-dealer-ep/
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 http://www.factmag.com/2013/12/11/burials-rival-dealer-is-a-christmas-story-about-love-confusion-and-sexuality-and-is-the-best-thing-hes-made-since-untrue/
- ↑ http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=14160
- ↑ http://www.nme.com/reviews/burial/15007
External links
- Rival Dealer on Hyperdub website
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