Burial (musician)
Encyclopedia
Burial is the stage name of William Bevan, an electronic music
ian from London
. His music contains elements of dubstep
, 2-step garage
, ambient
and house music
. His eponymous debut album
was released in 2006 to critical acclaim. The Wire
magazine named it their album of the year, along with achieving fifth place in the Mixmag
2006 Album of the Year list, and eighteenth in the best of the year list of The Observer
Music Monthly supplement. Burial's second album, Untrue
, was also released to critical acclaim and was the second-highest rated album of 2007, according to the review-collating website, Metacritic
.
reported that Burial was an alumnus of south London's Elliott School
named William Bevan (another alumnus, Hot Chip
's Joe Goddard, said in 2006 that Bevan was in the year above him). The school's alumni also include Kieran Hebden (a.k.a. Four Tet), with whom Bevan has collaborated.
On 22 July 2008, The Guardian
reported that Burial was a nominee for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize. NME
reported on 31 July 2008 that Burial was the favourite for the award. After much Mercury Prize-related coverage in tabloid newspapers in the UK, including speculation that Burial was either Richard D. James (Aphex Twin) or Norman Cook, Burial confirmed The Independents information and posted a picture of himself on his MySpace
page on 5 August 2008. A blog entry stated, "I'm a lowkey person and I just want to make some tunes, nothing else", as well as announcing a forthcoming four-track 12″, and thanking his fans for their support up to this point. On 9 September 2008, Elbow
won the award in question.
Bevan claims to compose nearly all his music in SoundForge, a digital audio editor
, and to eschew the use of trackers and sequencer
s. Journalist Derek Walmsley stated in The Wire:
Experimental Show and Benji B's Deviation show on BBC Radio 1
(either directly or through promo mixes from Kode9
) and mixes for Blackdown
, although some remixes have been heard on other stations.
Unreleased Burial tracks include "Gaslight", "U Hurt Me (Version)", "Feral Witchchild", "Stairwell", "Speedball 2", "True Love VIP" and "Lambeth".
release on !K7 Records (!K7CD227 out 23 June 2008 in the UK and 8 July 2008 in the US) appeared in different blogs and fan sites in the Internet. The CD was not released on those dates, but there was official confirmation of the postponed release in early August 2008 on the DJ-Kicks website. The only statement from Burial regarding the release was on MySpace, stating "fake djkicks tracklist got put up somewhere i got messages from people & producers thinking it was real. if i do djkicks it will be mostly old jungle tunes & new tunes. big up". A new release date was then set for 11 November 2008, later moved to 6 January 2009, and then postponed again until further notice.
On 21 July 2011 Flying Lotus
posted a track on Soundcloud
which was supposedly intended for Burial's DJ-Kicks mix. In a post on the DJ-Kicks website later the same day a photo was published showing paper record sleeves printed with the Burial logo and it was stated that "the reality of a Burial DJ-Kicks doesn’t seem to be any closer", but still there was hope that "someday there will be something to actually put into one of these empty bags".
's Daddy G said to be planning a remix album with Burial regarding their latest release 'Heligoland' .
On 10 October 2011 Massive Attack
announced the release of a 12 inch single in collaboration with Burial with the two tracks 'Four Walls' and 'Paradise Circus'. Massive Attack posted the track 'Four Walls' on their website. The record was limited to 1000 hand numbered heavy weight 180-gram vinyl copies, that sold out on the first day of pre-sale, 12 October 2011.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
ian from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His music contains elements of dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
, 2-step garage
2-step garage
2-step garage, or simply 2-step, is a typically English style of modern electronic dance music, and a relatively popular subgenre of UK garage.A transcription of this article is available as a PDF file.-Characteristics:...
, ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
and house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
. His eponymous debut album
Burial (Burial album)
Burial is the eponymous debut album by the dubstep producer Burial. It was released in 2006 on Kode9's Hyperdub records to critical acclaim, including being named "Album of the Year" by The Wire magazine...
was released in 2006 to critical acclaim. The Wire
The Wire (magazine)
The Wire is a British avant garde music magazine, founded in 1982 by jazz promoter Anthony Wood and journalist Chrissie Murray. The magazine initially concentrated on contemporary jazz and improvised music, but branched out in the early 1990s to various types of experimental music...
magazine named it their album of the year, along with achieving fifth place in the Mixmag
Mixmag
Mixmag is a British dance music and clubbing magazine. It styles itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine", with an Audit Bureau of Circulations audited circulation of approximately 21,250...
2006 Album of the Year list, and eighteenth in the best of the year list of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
Music Monthly supplement. Burial's second album, Untrue
Untrue
Untrue is the second album by the producer known as Burial. It was released on 5 November 2007 as a 13-track Digipack CD and a nine-track 2xLP from which some of the beatless pieces were edited. The album marked a development in Burial's sound; it employed pitch-shifted and time-stretched vocal...
, was also released to critical acclaim and was the second-highest rated album of 2007, according to the review-collating website, Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
.
Identity and Mercury Prize nomination
Although both albums have been met with much widespread acclaim, Burial remained anonymous until August 2008, and said in an early interview that "only five people know I make tunes". In February 2008, The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
reported that Burial was an alumnus of south London's Elliott School
Elliott School (London)
Elliott School is a co-educational foundation school and sixth form college in Pullman Gardens, Putney, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It has Language College specialist status through which it gained a European Award for Languages in 2004, the International School Award from the British...
named William Bevan (another alumnus, Hot Chip
Hot Chip
Hot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
's Joe Goddard, said in 2006 that Bevan was in the year above him). The school's alumni also include Kieran Hebden (a.k.a. Four Tet), with whom Bevan has collaborated.
On 22 July 2008, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reported that Burial was a nominee for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize. NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
reported on 31 July 2008 that Burial was the favourite for the award. After much Mercury Prize-related coverage in tabloid newspapers in the UK, including speculation that Burial was either Richard D. James (Aphex Twin) or Norman Cook, Burial confirmed The Independents information and posted a picture of himself on his MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page on 5 August 2008. A blog entry stated, "I'm a lowkey person and I just want to make some tunes, nothing else", as well as announcing a forthcoming four-track 12″, and thanking his fans for their support up to this point. On 9 September 2008, Elbow
Elbow (band)
Elbow are an English rock band. They have played together since 1990 and recorded five studio albums, the most recent of which is Build a Rocket Boys!, released in March 2011...
won the award in question.
Bevan claims to compose nearly all his music in SoundForge, a digital audio editor
Digital audio editor
A digital audio editor is a computer application for audio editing, i.e. manipulating digital audio. Digital audio editors are the main software component of a digital audio workstation.-For use with music:...
, and to eschew the use of trackers and sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
s. Journalist Derek Walmsley stated in The Wire:
Albums
- BurialBurial (Burial album)Burial is the eponymous debut album by the dubstep producer Burial. It was released in 2006 on Kode9's Hyperdub records to critical acclaim, including being named "Album of the Year" by The Wire magazine...
(2006), HyperdubHyperdubHyperdub is a London-based record label, founded and run by Steve Goodman, aka Kode9.Artists who have released on Hyperdub include label owner Kode9 Hyperdub is a London-based record label, founded and run by Steve Goodman, aka Kode9.Artists who have released on Hyperdub include label owner Kode9... - UntrueUntrueUntrue is the second album by the producer known as Burial. It was released on 5 November 2007 as a 13-track Digipack CD and a nine-track 2xLP from which some of the beatless pieces were edited. The album marked a development in Burial's sound; it employed pitch-shifted and time-stretched vocal...
(2007), Hyperdub–UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#58
Singles and EPs
- "South London Boroughs" (2005), Hyperdub
- "Distant Lights" (2006), Hyperdub
- "Ghost Hardware" (2007), Hyperdub
- "Street Halo" (2011), Hyperdub
Individual tracks
- "Versus" – on the Warrior DubzWarrior DubzWarrior Dubz is a dubstep compilation released in 2006 on the Planet Mu label. The album was compiled by Mary Anne Hobbs.-Track listing:#Milanese vs...
compilation (2006), Planet MuPlanet MuPlanet Mu is an electronic music record label run by Mike Paradinas . It was based in Worcester until March 2007, then moved to London and has recently relocated to Broadstairs, Kent... - "Unite" – on the Box of Dub compilation (2007), Soul Jazz RecordsSoul Jazz RecordsSoul Jazz Records is a British-based record label. The label started in the 1990s, releasing compilation albums of predominantly black music, including reggae, soul, ska, Dub and jazz...
- "Fostercare" – on the 5: Five Years of Hyperdub5: Five Years of Hyperdub5: Five Years Of Hyperdub is a 2 CD compilation album of material the Hyperdub Records back catalogue. The first CD consists of unreleased material, and the second contains tracks considered classics or highly influential within the genre. Pitchfork Media listed it as the 27th best album of...
compilation (2009), Hyperdub
Remixes
- "Crackle Blues (Burial Remix)" – by Blackdown (2006), Keysound
- "Wayfaring StrangerThe Wayfaring Stranger (song)"The Wayfaring Stranger" , Roud 3339, is a well-known American spiritual/folk song likely originating in the early 19th century about a plaintive soul on the journey through life. It became one of Burl Ives's signature songs, included on his 1944 album The Wayfaring Stranger...
(Burial Remix)" – by Jamie WoonJamie WoonJamie Woon is a British singer, songwriter and producer signed to Polydor who gained widespread acclaim in 2010 for his single Night Air which was co-produced by Burial, following his previous independent release, Wayfaring Stranger EP.The Eurasian son of a Malaysian Chinese father, and Scottish...
(2007), Live Recordings - "Where is Home? (Burial Remix)" – by Bloc PartyBloc PartyBloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
(2007), WichitaWichita RecordingsWichita Recordings is an independent record label located in London, founded in 2000 by Mark Bowen and Dick Green. Its most notable signees are Bloc Party, The Cribs, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Her Space Holiday, Los Campesinos! and Peter Bjorn and John... - "And It Rained All Night (Burial Remix)" – by Thom YorkeThom YorkeThomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
(2007), XLXL RecordingsXL Recordings is a British independent record label owned by Richard Russell. It originated as a 1989 offshoot of Beggars Banquet Records.Though only releasing an average of six albums a year, XL Recordings has worked with The Prodigy, Radiohead, The White Stripes, Dizzee Rascal, M.I.A., Vampire... - "Be True (Burial Remix)" – by CommixCommix-History:Based in Cambridge, Commix originally comprised George Levings, Guy Brewer and Conrad Whittle. As a DJ/production team, they began working together in 2002 and the trio released a series of 12-inch singles on the Aquasonic, Tangent Recordings, Good Looking Records, Creative Source and...
(2008), MetalheadzMetalheadzMetalheadz is a pioneering drum and bass record label based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1994 by Kemistry & Storm and Goldie, it has been home to some of the drum and bass scene's brightest talent and is notable for the high quality of its back catalogue....
Collaborations
- "Moth / Wolf Cub" – with Four TetFour TetKieran Hebden is a post-rock and electronic musician. Hebden first came to prominence as a member of the band Fridge before establishing himself as a solo artist under the moniker of Four Tet....
on 12" (2009), Text - "Vial" – with BreakageBreakage (musician)Breakage , is a London, UK drum and bass/dubstep producer and DJ. He is currently signed to the Digital Soundboy label.-Albums:-EPs:* Back Off * The Break Age * Hinds Sight...
on FoundationFoundation (Breakage album)Foundation is an album by British producer Breakage. The album's main styles are dubstep, UK garage and drum & bass. It was released on 22 March 2010, on the Digital Soundboy label.-Track listing:#"Open Up"#"Hardcore Music"...
(2010), Digital Soundboy - "Prophecy" – with El-BEl-BEl-B is a British producer and DJ. He is also noted as a pioneer of the dubstep genre. He runs the Ghost Recordings label and is also part of the duo El-Tuff and the band Groove Chronicles...
on the Nu Levels compilation (2010), Ghost Records / Thriller Funk - "Night Air" – with Jamie WoonJamie WoonJamie Woon is a British singer, songwriter and producer signed to Polydor who gained widespread acclaim in 2010 for his single Night Air which was co-produced by Burial, following his previous independent release, Wayfaring Stranger EP.The Eurasian son of a Malaysian Chinese father, and Scottish...
on 12" / MirrorwritingMirrorwriting-Track listing:-Charts:...
(2010), Candent Songs / Polydor - "Ego / Mirror" – with Four TetFour TetKieran Hebden is a post-rock and electronic musician. Hebden first came to prominence as a member of the band Fridge before establishing himself as a solo artist under the moniker of Four Tet....
& Thom YorkeThom YorkeThomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
on 12" (2011), Text - "Four Walls / Paradise CircusFour Walls / Paradise Circus"Four Walls / Paradise Circus" is a collaboration between Massive Attack and Burial, which was first released as a limited vinyl edition on 17 October 2011, with pre-orders from 10 October 2011...
" – with Massive AttackMassive AttackMassive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
on 12" (2011), Inhale Gold
Unreleased tracks
A number of unreleased tracks confirmed as Burial productions have featured in various mixes. So far, these have been mostly restricted to appearances on the Mary Anne HobbsMary Anne Hobbs
Mary Anne Hobbs is an English DJ and music journalist from Garstang, Lancashire. She launched a new Primetime show on Xfm on 9 July 2011-Early career:...
Experimental Show and Benji B's Deviation show on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
(either directly or through promo mixes from Kode9
Kode9
Kode9 is a London-based electronic music artist, DJ, and owner of the Hyperdub record label. An MC, The Spaceape, is a frequent collaborator...
) and mixes for Blackdown
Blackdown
- Places :In England:* Blackdown, Dorset, a village near Chard* Blackdown, Hampshire, a village near Winchester* Blackdown, West Sussex, a hill also spelt Black Down* Blackdown, Warwickshire, a village near Leamington Spa...
, although some remixes have been heard on other stations.
Unreleased Burial tracks include "Gaslight", "U Hurt Me (Version)", "Feral Witchchild", "Stairwell", "Speedball 2", "True Love VIP" and "Lambeth".
DJ-Kicks
On 21 April 2008, the news about a forthcoming DJ-KicksDJ-Kicks
DJ-Kicks is a series of DJ mix albums, mixed by various artists for the independent record label !K7 Records.-History:...
release on !K7 Records (!K7CD227 out 23 June 2008 in the UK and 8 July 2008 in the US) appeared in different blogs and fan sites in the Internet. The CD was not released on those dates, but there was official confirmation of the postponed release in early August 2008 on the DJ-Kicks website. The only statement from Burial regarding the release was on MySpace, stating "fake djkicks tracklist got put up somewhere i got messages from people & producers thinking it was real. if i do djkicks it will be mostly old jungle tunes & new tunes. big up". A new release date was then set for 11 November 2008, later moved to 6 January 2009, and then postponed again until further notice.
On 21 July 2011 Flying Lotus
Flying Lotus
Flying Lotus, is an experimental multi-genre music producer from Winnetka, California. His debut album, 1983, was released on Plug Research Records in 2006...
posted a track on Soundcloud
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform which allows collaboration, promotion and distribution of audio recordings.-History:SoundCloud was originally started in Stockholm, Sweden, but was established in Berlin, Germany in August, 2007 by sound designer Alex Ljung and artist Eric Wahlforss...
which was supposedly intended for Burial's DJ-Kicks mix. In a post on the DJ-Kicks website later the same day a photo was published showing paper record sleeves printed with the Burial logo and it was stated that "the reality of a Burial DJ-Kicks doesn’t seem to be any closer", but still there was hope that "someday there will be something to actually put into one of these empty bags".
Massive Attack
On 10 February 2010 Massive AttackMassive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
's Daddy G said to be planning a remix album with Burial regarding their latest release 'Heligoland' .
On 10 October 2011 Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
announced the release of a 12 inch single in collaboration with Burial with the two tracks 'Four Walls' and 'Paradise Circus'. Massive Attack posted the track 'Four Walls' on their website. The record was limited to 1000 hand numbered heavy weight 180-gram vinyl copies, that sold out on the first day of pre-sale, 12 October 2011.