Mysterious music producer Burial unveils a fresh 23-minute EP, titled Comafields and Imaginary Festival
In the world of electronic music, London-based artist Burial (William Bevan) has made a significant impact with his unique blend of garage, dubstep, and ambient sounds. Known as one of the most influential electronic artists of the past few decades, Burial has just released a new two-track EP titled "Comafields" and "Imaginary Festival".
The EP showcases Burial's continued exploration of a specific sound that has developed over the past decade. Each track, over 10 minutes long, features fragile garage-influenced beats and faded trance synths. New influences can be heard in the EP, with "Comafields" building into layered synth drones that feel almost post-rock.
Burial's signature collage-like approach, characterised by incidental vocals and layered crackles, is also present in the latest tracks. However, there is a more hi-fi sheen to some of the synth sounds compared to earlier releases, suggesting a maturation in his production style.
Burial's preference for using the obsolete software, Sound Forge, is a testament to his hands-on approach to production. In a rare interview, he revealed his lack of formal training and fear of professional studios. This DIY ethos is reflected in his production credits, where he is deeply involved in composition, production, and engineering of his tracks.
Burial's last full EP was released in 2024, titled "Dreamfear/Boy Sent From Above". In the past year, he supplied the soundtrack to Harmony Korine's AI-powered film "Baby Invasion", but the soundtrack has not received a standalone release.
Burial's 2007 album "Untrue" gained significant attention, breaking him out of the London underground music scene and into the public consciousness. The album was pieced together using an ancient version of Sony's Sound Forge running on a "rubbish, dying computer" that intermittently leaked smoke.
The EP is available on Bandcamp and streaming services, with a clear vinyl release scheduled for September 19. "Untrue" was also nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2007.
Over the years, Burial's setup has evolved from using early digital audio workstations and samples characteristic of his original dubstep style to more intricate sample manipulation and hybrid genre experimentation. His process still revolves around sampling vinyl and other sources, but with increasingly nuanced layering and rhythmic experimentation, reflecting growth in both technical skill and musical palette.
The exact details of Burial's current hardware or software setup are not publicly known, but his production credits and social media posts confirm a primarily studio-based, sample-centric digital production workflow that has matured since his early career.
The new two-track EP, "Comafields" and "Imaginary Festival", showcases Burial's continued exploration of a specific sound in electronic music, blending garage, dubstep, and ambient sounds with new influences and a more hi-fi sheen in synth sounds compared to earlier releases. This fresh release, available on Bandcamp and streaming services, can be seen as a testament to Burial's growth in technical skill and musical palette, influenced by his DIY ethos and preference for using the obsolete software, Sound Forge.
