Always sure to generate buzz and excitement with any of his works, Burial has chosen the format of an EP for his 2012 release. The British recording artist has yet to produce a full-length album since his critically acclaimed 2007 LP Untrue, but that has not the diminished the hype and aura that surrounds this mysterious man. Burial, a.k.a. Will Bevan, has maintained a high level of anonymity despite creating Wire Magazine’s 2006 “Album of the Year” with his self-titled debut.
This year’s offering is a three-track Extended Play, and extended it is. Totaling 30 minutes, the recently released Kindred EP will go a long way toward appeasing fans hungry for more from the genre-crossing musician. The title track brings just as much confusion to the genre debate as does attempting to classify Burial itself. Steady throughout its 11½ minutes in length, Bevan masterfully mixes the harsh dubstep sound with the recognizable garage-style clattering that passes as the song’s percussion. Displaying his usual firm grasp on spacing and time, “Kindred” will end up getting more replays this week than anything else in your catalog. Impressive for such a lengthy cut.
The beautiful vocal sample spread over the top of the angry, reverberating bass helps sustain the emotion of the piece throughout its entirety. If the long pauses breaking up this symphony aim to provide rest for those on the dance floor, the carefully timed drops always bring the stunning atmosphere back in an instant. Just when it seems plausible to label “Kindred” as a quiet club anthem, the listener is reminded of the opening sound of rain hitting pavement that proves Burial’s intentions are deeper than the indoor confines of a Saturday night.
Due to the ability to shatter most restraints and titles attached to his music, Bevan has London club owners and fans of all genres squirming for the end of Burial’s five-year LP drought. The length and quality of Kindred EP should soothe their anxiety for months to come.