Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland - Black Is Beautiful

Hyperdub - LP
UK, 2012 (OG red vinyl pressing)
Left Field / Dean Blunt / Downtempo

Probably one of the most important LP's of the past 15 years. Discreetly revolutionized music formats, building new bridges between experimental scenes and mainstream pop. Huge favourite.

Calling this record "influential" would be an understatement in 2024. I've already acknowledge my admiration for Dean Blunt's work - not to undermine Inga Copeland's implication on this 2012 LP - on this site on several occasions, but this album here, is the blueprint for a lot of the stuff that got released in recent years. From the format (indiscriminately alternating very short and long tracks, cheap sounding and lushly produced songs), the artwork, the music production ethos and the attitude (playing with racial stereotypes).

Not only is it a great middle finger from two of the only truly Kaufman-esque like figures in this industry, but the music they offer slaps and genuinely sounds like nothing else. From the Chris Carter-like 9:25min slow indus jam ("10") to the weird beat of "9" via a then very improbable cover of Donnie & Joe Emerson's "Baby", that's one unique tracklist.

 I remember when it dropped in Parisian record shops, it was then a very very bizarre record, that wouldn't fit anywhere, neither in the electronic / dance sections, nor in the experimental one. It was disarming, and wouldn't sell well, misunderstood and not fashionable. They wouldn't play Bourse de Commerce, or whatever trendy venue of the time, but shitty experimental gigs for audiences of chin-stroking dudes. Babyfather gig in Paris last September attested that time has changed... However, it would be a shame to let the big-money-fashion-industry commodifies/shittifies yet another hero of a forward thinking artistic avant garde... Pristine original copy. (NM/NM)

Tracklist

1. (Venice Dreamway)
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
6. 6
7. 7
8. 8
9. 9
10. 10
11. 11
12. 12
13. 13
14. 14
15. 15