Untrue
By Burial, 2007

4 stars

Burial is an anonymous London techno producer who has received massive hype within electronic music circles. Burial’s second full length Untrue was atop many a critic’s list last year, but some listeners may have been put off by the pidgeonholing genre tag “dubstep.” That is a hybrid dub and British house music. In Burial’s case needless genre politics and “I’m more true than you” scene posturing has obscured some wicked tracks that deserve a broader stateside audience. Present are the off kilter rhythms of 2 step garage, and the repetitive vocal samples of dub. These elements can be found in most dubstep productions, but Burial results are far more affecting. Few musicians can better simulate the emotional impact of urban blight. Especially via his of use static, pops, and warped fragmented vocal hooks. He has taken the detritus the world around him, a world of soiled concrete and broken windows, and recycled it into something haunting. Far too often, producers employ plunderphonic methods to create absurdist mash-ups, the only goal of which is to make you laugh. Burial is trying to make you cry. If you enjoy the atmospheric mood music of Radiohead & Portishead you should definitely give Burial a spin. The library has Untrue and his first self-titled album as well. Burial recently broke his anonymous persona and leaked his real name via his myspace page. I wonder if admitting he’s a real live human will effect his mystique?

- Bryan