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{{use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Exeter
Line 8 ⟶ 7:
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2020|04|08|df=y}}
|
|
| label = [[Year0001]]
| producer = [[Gud (music producer)|Gud]]
| prev_title = [[Trash Island (album)|Trash Island]]
|
| next_title = [[333 (Bladee album)|333]]
| next_year = 2020
}}
'''''Exeter''''' is the third studio album by the Swedish rapper [[Bladee]]. It was released by [[Year0001]] on 8 April 2020. Recorded during a week period in [[Gotland]], it is his first album to be significantly produced by [[Gud (music producer)|Gud]]. It is an [[experimental pop]] album that has also been described as containing influences from [[cloud rap]] and "blissful" [[pop music]]. Its lyrics are stripped down and minimal, and explore themes of [[optimism]] and [[adoration]]. Compared to Bladee's previous work, ''Exeter'' is more hopeful and positive, has stripped-back production that usually contains no drums, and contains [[Auto-Tune|Auto-Tuned]] vocals. It was promoted with a European tour during October 2020, and received acclaim from [[Pitchfork (website)|''Pitchfork'']] and ''[[laut.de]]''.
== Background and release ==
[[Bladee]] released his second studio album [[Red Light (Bladee album)|''Red Light'']] on 11 May 2018.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |author=Li |first=Nicolaus |date=11 May 2018 |title=Stream Bladee's New Album, 'Red Light' |url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/5/bladee-red-light-album-stream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911045129/https://hypebeast.com/2018/5/bladee-red-light-album-stream |archive-date=11 September 2018 |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=[[Hypebeast (website)|Hypebeast]] |language=en-us}}</ref> It received an infamous review from [[Anthony Fantano]],''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=George |first=Cassidy |date=4 May 2023 |title=Drain Gang |url=https://032c.com/magazine/drain-gang |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504160443/https://032c.com/magazine/drain-gang |archive-date=4 May 2023 |access-date=14 December 2024 |website=[[032c]]}}</ref>'' who has since called it one of his most negative reviews ever.{{sfn|Fantano|2024|loc=0:33}} Later that year, Bladee released the mixtape ''[[Icedancer]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darville |first=Jordan |date=18 January 2019 |title=Bladee and Yung Lean share "Red Velvet" music video |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/01/18/bladee-yung-lean-red-velvet-music-video |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203024657/https://www.thefader.com/2019/01/18/bladee-yung-lean-red-velvet-music-video |archive-date=3 February 2019 |access-date=14 December 2024 |website=[[The Fader]]}}</ref> which was followed by 2019's [[Trash Island (album)|''Trash Island'']], a collaboration album with [[Drain Gang]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingvaldsen |first=Torsten |date=2019-09-12 |title=Drain Gang Relishes in Trance Pad-Heavy Cloud rap on 'Trash Island' |url=https://hypebeast.com/2019/9/drain-gang-thaiboy-digital-bladee-ecco2k-whitearmor-trash-island-album-stream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218205706/https://hypebeast.com/2019/9/drain-gang-thaiboy-digital-bladee-ecco2k-whitearmor-trash-island-album-stream |archive-date=18 December 2019 |access-date=14 December 2024 |publisher=[[Hypebeast (company)|Hypebeast]]}}</ref> ''Exeter'' was executive produced by [[Gud (music producer)|Gud]], which marks the first time Bladee has significantly worked with the producer on an album.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Dandridge-Lemco |first=Ben |date=16 April 2020 |title=Bladee: ''Exeter'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bladee-exeter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416154638/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bladee-exeter/ |archive-date=16 April 2020 |access-date=27 April 2020 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Ingvaldsen |first=Torsten |date=8 April 2020 |title=Listen to Bladee's Third Studio Album 'EXETER' |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/4/bladee-exeter-album-stream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411013453/https://hypebeast.com/2020/4/bladee-exeter-album-stream |archive-date=11 April 2020 |access-date=2020-04-18 |publisher=[[Hypebeast (website)|Hypebeast]]}}</ref> It was recorded in a week during a trip to [[Gotland]] during summer 2019.<ref name=":14">{{Cite Instagram |postid=B-uIycznXAr |user=spotify |title=Listen to EXETER from #Bladee now at the link in bio 🌼 |first= |last= |author=[[Spotify]] |date=8 April 2020}}</ref> Speaking with [[Spotify]], he said the inspiration behind the album "was trying to paint and express an inner image or feeling that I have through sound".<ref name=":14" /> ''Exeter'' was released by [[Year0001]] on 8 April 2020. He embarked on a European tour during October 2020, to support the album.<ref name=":1" />
== Composition ==
=== Overview ===
Though Yannik Gölz of ''[[laut.de]]'' has said ''Exeter'' is "a [[cloud rap]] distillate as an [[experimental pop]] album",<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Gölz |first=Yannik |date=2020-04-08 |title=Eine Platte wie ein Irrgarten: Aus Cloud Rap wird Pop |trans-title=A record like a labyrinth: Cloud rap becomes pop |url=https://www.laut.de/Bladee/Alben/Exeter-114277 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506135700/https://laut.de/Bladee/Alben/Exeter-114277 |archive-date=6 May 2020 |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=[[laut.de]] |language=de}}</ref> Torsten Ingvaldsen from [[Hypebeast (company)|Hypebeast]] wrote that the album departs from Bladee's "normative blend of [[ambient pop]] and cloud rap."<ref name=":1" /> He also believed the album's atmosphere was more [[Psychedelic music|psychedelic]], the production contains a "blend of [[Trance music|trance]] pads and [[Trap music|trap]]", and thought the production was more stripped-back.<ref name=":1" /> [[Pitchfork (website)|''Pitchfork'']]'s Ben Dandridge-Lemco wrote that the album pushes toward "blissful [[Pop music|pop]] and strips down his lyrics to their most minimal extreme". He also thought that Gud's production "glues the album together".<ref name=":0" /> Gud's production on the album typically reduces the echo effects in the album's psychedelic and synthesized sound. There are usually no drums in the tracks, and the production simply contains off-course sounds with "beeps and bleeps". The album also consists of odd melodies that are created by Bladee's [[Auto-Tune|Auto-Tuned]] vocals.<ref name=":3" /> Gölz thought that the album was probably inspired by [[Yves Tumor]], [[Clams Casino (musician)|Clams Casino]], [[Hiroshi Yoshimura]], or [[Brian Eno]].<ref name=":3" />
The lyrics in ''Exeter'' are stripped down and minimal,<ref name=":0" /> and explore themes of [[optimism]] and [[adoration]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Nicolaus |date=16 July 2020 |title=Bladee Releases Surprise New Album, '333' |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/7/bladee-333-album-stream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718015837/https://hypebeast.com/2020/7/bladee-333-album-stream |archive-date=18 July 2020 |access-date=14 December 2024 |publisher=[[Hypebeast (company)|Hypebeast]]}}</ref> Bladee's voice was described as "fragil [fragile]" by Gölz, and he wrote that the lyrics are "so verwundbar und nackt werden die lyrics dargeboten [presented so vulnerable and naked]". He also thought that the album is more hopeful and positive compared to Bladee's previous work.<ref name=":3" /> Dandridge-Lemco highlighted the [[worldbuilding]] in Bladee's music, and thought that the album "sounds like a warped version of [[Mario]]'s journey to save [[Princess Peach]]".<ref name=":0" /> ''[[The Fader]]''{{'s}} Salvatore Maicki wrote that it "feels like a ghoulish circus with no finite boundaries".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maicki |first=Salvatore |date=17 April 2020 |title=10 songs you need in your life this week |url=https://www.thefader.com/2020/04/17/best-songs-playlist-fiona-apple-playboi-carti-joji |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421011036/https://www.thefader.com/2020/04/17/best-songs-playlist-fiona-apple-playboi-carti-joji |archive-date=21 April 2020 |access-date=14 December 2024 |website=[[The Fader]]}}</ref>
=== Songs ===
With its nine tracks, ''Exeter'' is Bladee's shortest album.<ref name=":1" /> The opening track is "Mirror (Hymn) - Intro", which showcases Bladee repeating three phrases: "Mirror in the way", "Follow all the way", and "Window in the way" in a "circular pattern" over sparkling and ascending notes. The track then sees Bladee singing: "Ego in the way/I go all the way/I'm not in the way". Dandridge-Lemco wrote that the track "serves as a blueprint for his approach". The following "Wonderland" contains an appearance from [[Ecco2K]], which Dandridge-Lemco thought helped kept the track grounded.<ref name=":0" /> "Merry-Go-Round" explores the boundaries of Bladee's life atop claps from a [[drum machine]] and "glowing synthetic notes". Hubert Adjei-Kontoh from ''Pitchfork'' believed the production "creates an oddly analog effect" and that the track "gets behind Bladee's nihilism, where he hides the lyrical melancholy of a true romantic".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adjei-Kontoh |first=Hubert |date=13 April 2020 |title=Bladee: "MERRY-GO-ROUND" Track Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/bladee-merry-go-round/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416123433/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/bladee-merry-go-round/ |archive-date=16 April 2020 |access-date=14 December 2024 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Dandridge-Lemco said the track strikes "a satisfying balance between simple writing and catchy melody".<ref name=":0" /> "Rain3ow Star (Love Is All)" follows, a track where Bladee uses his voice as an instrument, and allows space for the production to breathe.<ref name=":0" />
"Every Moment Special" contains delicate [[Synthesizer|synthesizers]], drums that are slightly [[Syncopation|syncopated]], and a "dreamy instrumental arrangement" according to Hypebeast's Charlie Zhang.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Charlie |date=21 April 2020 |title=Bladee Drops Glitchy Lo-Fi Visuals for "Every Moment Special" |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/4/bladee-every-moment-special-music-video-stream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430201024/https://hypebeast.com/2020/4/bladee-every-moment-special-music-video-stream |archive-date=30 April 2020 |access-date=14 December 2024 |website=[[Hypebeast (company)|Hypebeast]]}}</ref> The song's lyrics are simple and only contain two repeated phrases;<ref name=":0" /> Zhang described Bladee's vocals on the track as "moody" and thought the simple lyrics blend well with the "obscured distortion effects and feedback".<ref name=":4" /> Dandridge-Lemco thought that Bladee's influence on groups such as [[100 gecs]] is shown on "DNA Rain", a song that has a glitchy and "angelic" sound.<ref name=":0" /> On "Open Symbols (Play) Be in Your Mind", ''Exeter''<nowiki/>'s seventh track, Bladee emphasizes the line "I'm not special".<ref name=":0" /> Ecco2K appears again on the penultimate "Lovestory",<ref name=":0" /> a track that was compared to [[Björk]] by [[Anthony Fantano]].{{sfn|Fantano|2020|loc=2:48}} Fantano also said that it contains "wonderous and gorgeous [[music box]] synths"{{sfn|Fantano|2020|loc=2:44}} and "minimal and malformed bass and drums".{{sfn|Fantano|2020|loc=2:52}} The closing track "Imaginary" has inharmonious keyboard notes.<ref name=":3" />
== Critical reception ==
{{Album ratings
| rev1
| rev1score =
| rev2 = [[The Needle Drop]]
| rev2score = 5/10{{efn|Specifically, Fantano rated the album a "strong 5".{{sfn|Fantano|2020|loc=10:51}}}}
| rev3 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev3score = 7.2/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Dandridge-Lemco |first=Ben |title=Bladee: ''Exeter'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bladee-exeter/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=16 April 2020 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>
}}
Dandridge-Lemco wrote that ''Exeter'' is the "sort of album that rewards you the closer you lean into it" in a positive review for ''Pitchfork.''<ref name=":0" /> For ''laut.de'', Gölz thought that once you settled into the album, it becomes addictive.<ref name=":3" /> Fantano enjoyed the album's production and thought that it was imaginative, but felt that a lot of aspects of the album could have been improved.{{sfn|Fantano|2020|loc=5:24}} Dandridge-Lemco and Gölz both believed that ''Exeter'' would not entice new listeners into Bladee's music;<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> the latter described it as "Drain Gang sound for advanced listeners".<ref name=":3" />
== Track listing ==
{{Track listing
| headline = ''Exeter'' track listing
| total_length = 18:21
| all_writing = [[Bladee|Benjamin Reichwald]] and [[Gud (music producer)|Carl-Mikael Berlander]], except "Wonderland" and "Lovestory", written by Reichwald, Berlander and [[Ecco2K|Zak Arogundade]]. All tracks are produced by [[Gud (music producer)|Gud]].
| title1 = Mirror (Hymn) - Intro
| length1 = 1:40
| title2 = Wonderland
| note2 = featuring [[Ecco2K]]
| length2 = 2:05
| title3 = Merry-Go-Round
| length3 = 2:03
| title4 = Rain3ow Star (Love Is All)
| length4 = 2:14
| title5 = Every Moment Special
| length5 = 2:03
| title6 = DNA Rain
| length6 = 1:47
| title7 = Open Symbols (Play) Be in Your Mind | length7 = 2:07
| title8 = Lovestory
| note8 = featuring Ecco2K
| length8 = 2:15
| title9 = Imaginary
| length9 = 2:06
}}
'''Notes'''
* Track titles are stylised in all caps.
== Personnel ==
Credits adapted from the [[Year0001]] website.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bladee - Exeter |url=https://year0001.com/label/cases/yr0105 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408000328/https://year0001.com/label/cases/yr0105 |archive-date=8 April 2020 |access-date=14 December 2024 |publisher=[[Year0001]]}}</ref>
* [[Gud (music producer)|Gud]] – executive production
* Robin Schmidt – [[Mastering (audio)|mastering]]
* [[Bladee|Benjamin Reichwald]] – art
== Release history ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" |Region
! scope="col" |Date
! scope="col" |Format(s)
! scope="col" |Label
! scope="col" |Edition
! scope="col" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" |Various
|8 April 2020
|{{hlist|[[Streaming media|Streaming]]}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Year0001]]
|Original
| align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 April 2020 |title=Exeter - Album by Bladee |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/exeter/1615596959 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909081714/https://music.apple.com/us/album/exeter/1615596959 |archive-date=9 September 2022 |access-date=14 December 2024 |publisher=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|{{hlist|[[LP record|LP]]}}
| rowspan="1" |Reissue
| align="center" |<ref name="liner notes">{{cite AV media notes |title=Exeter |others=[[Bladee]] |year=2023 |type=LP |publisher=[[Year0001]] |id=YR0105LP |location=Worldwide}}</ref>
|-
|}
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
=== Video sources ===
* {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwghlPMoXwc |title=Bladee - COLD VISIONS ALBUM REVIEW |date=2 May 2024 |last=Fantano |first=Anthony |author-link=Anthony Fantano |publisher=[[Anthony Fantano|The Needle Drop]] |access-date=14 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503183551/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwghlPMoXwc |archive-date=3 May 2024 |url-status=live |via=[[YouTube]]}}
* {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs3Bfg_5t8Q&ab_channel=theneedledrop |title=Bladee - Exeter MIXTAPE REVIEW |date=13 April 2020 |last=Fantano |first=Anthony |author-link=Anthony Fantano |publisher=[[Anthony Fantano|The Needle Drop]] |access-date=14 December 2024 |url-status=live |via=[[YouTube]]}}
{{Bladee}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2020 albums]]
[[Category:Bladee albums]]
[[Category:Experimental pop albums]]
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