Many of us can link a certain album to pivotal moments in our lives. Whether it’s the first record you bought with your own money, the chord you first learnt to play on guitar, the song that soundtracked your first kiss, the album that got you those awkward and painful pubescent years or the one that set off light bulbs in your brain and inspired you to take a big leap of faith into the unknown – music is often the catalyst for change in our lives and can even help shape who we become.
In this series, Music Feeds asks artists to reflect on their relationship with music and share with us stories about the effect music has had on their lives.
Hannah Lesser, ALTA: Burial – Untrue (2007)
“Closer, love you soooo, love you so”
Untrue, you are everything I remember.
Our best days, our worst days, it’s here for us every day.
When you know something well enough, it becomes a part of you, stitches in your own fabric.
Jules and I are definitely made of blood, bones and Burial, and that’s on life.
Contrary to its name, Burial’s album Untrue is everything and anything but that. It has never lied and most definitely has never let us down, it’s our go-to, our anytime. It wasn’t a passing phase for us personally or culturally. You can hear Burial’s influence all through lo-fi, dance, emotive and garage music today. Untrue has proudly and effortlessly held its place on the top-shelf since forever, it hasn’t aged, it’s Benjamin Button. I love a good flavour of the month and the fact that this album was released in 2007 and still gets a run through my ears once a week says something.
We can only imagine what it must feel like to pioneer a genre. This album has had such an impact on both our lives and we would be different people if it hadn’t swung in and stuck a big ol’ stamp on our souls.
We make emotional dance music. Our aim is to elicit some kind of emotion from our listeners – we want to connect with people, create a genuine feeling of belonging, comfort and safety. When we listen to this album we feel all those things. It drives us to be creative, it simultaneously gives us hope and despair. Will we ever create something as impactful? Probably not. Does it matter? Absolutely not. Are we fulfilled when we listen to it? The most. And does it take us to a place of both nostalgia and presence? 100.
She loves a challenge you see, if I can impact someone as much as this album has impacted me then I’ll know I have done something right. All of the things that keep you up and burn your brain will be worth it. Keep pushing, always learning, that’s what I try to do.
I tell you what though.. You, you sure did tie those damn heartstrings in a fisherman’s knot didn’t you! Got the damn soldering iron out and all, you’re stuck to me.
Burial, I thank you every time I listen.
Your 100%, not even a secret admirer.
–
ALTA’s long-awaited debut LP, Reasons, is out today.
