Burial - Street Halo EP

Pretty Girls Make Graves....

A few weeks ago my prayers were answered when I came home to discover the release of the new 12” between electronic music’s Holy Trinity; Four Tet, Burial and Thom Yorke collaborating on the incredible tracks Ego and Mirror. I was just coming to terms with this dream line up when a week later it was sprung on me whilst listening to Benji B’s interview with Hyperdub head honcho Kode 9 that Burial was to release his first solo EP in 4 years on Monday; it was then that I knew that there is a god.

Burial has carved out his own distinct sound, so distinct that after 10 seconds of listening to a track you can instantly recognise that it’s a Burial production, and this EP only confirms this. The wooden percussion, foggy white noise infused atmospheres and heartbreaking vocal samples are all still there but the distinct 2 step rhythms from his earlier productions seem to have been phased out.

The title track Street Halo sounds like post apocalyptic club music; with its driving mechanical beat pulsing bass line and trademark haunting vocals. The secretive producer seems to have taken house music and twisted it with his trademark murky, dystopian sound. NYC sees Burial take the pace down a notch; bringing the emotion drenched vocal to the forefront of the track to float over the beautiful yet understated atmosphere. On first listen this track didn’t really stand out for me but the more and more I listen to it the more I love it. If Burial was to produce R&B it would sound like NYC. Last up is the incredible Stolen Dog which finishes off the release beautifully. Based around a simple synth line Burial layers the track with ambience and soul that is so subtle that you almost don’t realise it’s there, it just washes over you and before you know it the EP has finished.

I cannot recommend this EP enough; since its release I can’t remember a day where I haven’t listened to it. Although I had to wait for four years I would gladly wait another four for a release as good as this.

Street Halo is available now physically and digitally via Hyperdub Records.

Listen to NYC below:

Burial - NYC by Salsoulrecords