What makes Rival Dealer by Burial notable?

Rival Dealer received widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike, with particular praise for its innovative production techniques and emotional depth. The EP's blend of ambient music with darker themes resonated within the electronic music community, influencing a generation of producers and contributing to ongoing discussions about identity and technology in modern life. Released in January 2013, Rival Dealer followed Burial's critically acclaimed album Untrue. At this point in his career, Burial was already a significant figure in electronic music, having established himself as a pioneer in the dubstep and future garage genres. This release marked a continued evolution of his sound, showcasing a more introspective and nuanced approach.

How many songs are on Rival Dealer?

Rival Dealer has 3 tracks, running approximately 28 minutes.

Rival Dealer

Burial · 2013

28 min · 3 tracks · ambient music

Ethereal soundscapes merge with fragmented rhythms, creating an immersive experience that blurs the lines between dream and reality.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Rival Dealer — The title track encapsulates the EP's haunting atmosphere, weaving together intricate layers of sound that evoke feelings of isolation and yearning.
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Hiders — This track stands out with its poignant melodies and haunting vocals, creating a sense of vulnerability amidst the rhythmic complexity.
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Come Down to Us — As the longest track on the EP, it builds a profound emotional arc that explores themes of connection and solitude through its evolving soundscape.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

72 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

Rival Dealer showcases immersive soundscapes and innovative production, marking it as a standout in Burial's discography.

What we noticed

The EP consists of three tracks, each over six minutes long, allowing for extended development of soundscapes.
Each track features a gradual build-up of layers, with ambient textures interspersed with fragmented beats that create a sense of movement.
The final track incorporates vocal samples that are heavily processed, adding an ethereal quality without dominating the instrumental focus.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Rival Dealer 10:42
2 Hiders 4:44
3 Come Down to Us 13:06

What to play next

Listen next

Tunes 2011–2019

2019

Go back to

Untrue

2007

Full Burial discography Where to start with Burial Artists like Burial

dubstep future garage

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata