British experimental music maverick Dean Blunt has long delayed a proper follow - up to his 2014 post - punk masterpiece Black Metal. Instead, he's released about a dozen other projects, collaborating with Delroy Edwards, Panda Bear, and A$AP Rocky, and leading side projects like Babyfather and Blue Iverson. Black Metal 2 came from an extended 2020 session with UK producer Kwake Bass, who brings fresh musicality and a great new drum sound to Dean's loop - based singer - songwriter style. Mica Levi and Joanne Robertson add unique guitar tones and folk lullabies respectively. Unlike the long first Black Metal, BM2 is delightfully short, as if Dean has refined his arrangements for the streaming age. Check out tracks like “Mugu,” “Dash Snow,” “Sketamine,” “ZaZa,” and “The Rot.” It was first released digitally this year and is now available on 180g black vinyl via Rough Trade. It includes a vinyl - exclusive bonus track 'Astro' and is from the Rough Trade label in 2021. It pairs nicely with the new Tirzah record. Recommended.
Using this vinyl LP is simple. Just place it on your turntable, gently drop the needle on the start of the record, and enjoy the music. When handling the vinyl, make sure your hands are clean to avoid leaving fingerprints or dirt on the surface. Store the vinyl in a cool, dry place and keep it in its sleeve when not in use to prevent scratches. After each use, you can use a vinyl brush to clean the grooves and keep the sound quality high. If you want to preserve the bonus track 'Astro', just like the other tracks, proper handling and storage are key.
