Year end cerebral bangers from UK lurker Burial. It's been a relatively quiet year for the revered mysterious producer, but that's not to say we can't go out with a bang. Rival Dealer is a 3-cut 12" featuring some highly anticipated chunes that range in style but keep the "GODDAMN THAT'S HOT" aesthetic. The self-titled opener is a throwback to the 'ardcore days of UK's past with heavy breakbeats chopped and sliced over top some seriously fat synth gnarliness. "Hiders" opens up like a somber Blake-esque number, that for some reason makes me think of the movie Legend, but quickly turns around into an epic "I'm gonna win this race if it's the last thing I do" movie scene. The closer "Come Down To Us" sounds just like that. Imagine the clouds opening up and Jesus walking (flying? floating?) down to greet us and just being like "yo have you heard this?" Recommended.

• black 12" vinyl pressing
• housed in die-cut Hyperdub sleeve
  
• music label: Hyperdub 2013

reviewed by Larry Hosono 12/2013