Before English songwriter-musician Dean Blunt built his extensive solo catalogue, he was part of the elusive electronic duo Hype Williams, alongside Russian-Estonian musician Inga Copeland. In 2013, the duo announced on SoundCloud that they were “no longer affiliated,” officially ending one of the most enigmatic collaborations in underground music. Their breakup marked a turning point, allowing Blunt to fully pursue his own artistic vision.
That same year, Blunt released “The Redeemer” (May 2013), one of the most unique albums of the 2010s. At its core, “The Redeemer” is a breakup album. It uses recorded voicemails as interludes and is filled with spiritual, confessional and repentant lyrics. The album feels deeply personal, yet intentionally distant.
Sonically, “The Redeemer” is sparse and haunting. Much of the album relies on choral, synthesized backdrops that evoke the eerie calm of “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” and “Ocarina of Time.” Blunt samples widely and unexpectedly, pulling from artists like K-Ci and JoJo, Pink Floyd and Kate Bush.
The album’s structure is deliberately unconventional. Across its 19 tracks and 44-minute runtime, songs often blur into skits or atmospheric transitions. Tracks like “I Run New York,” “MMIX,” and “Predator” barely function as traditional songs. One striking moment comes at the end of “Papi,” where loud Big Ben chimes lead from a stock New Year’s countdown. The title “MMIX” refers to 2009, a year some speculate marks the beginning of Blunt and Copeland’s relationship, adding even more mystery to the record.
When “The Redeemer” does settle into more recognizable song forms, the results are equally haunting. “Make It Official” features detached, jazz-tinged instrumentation and bluesy, Hendrix-inspired guitar work, recalling the lo-fi sleaze of Mac DeMarco’s “Rock and Roll Night Club.” One of the album’s most affecting tracks, “The Pedigree,” finds Blunt softly crooning over beautifully sampled strings. Another highlight would be Flaxen and its angelic harps; even if it’s an instrumental track, it still completes the album entirely.
Critics praised “The Redeemer” for its minimalism and conceptual ambition, highlighting how Blunt blurred the boundaries between pop, R&B and experimental electronic music. The album cemented his status as a defining figure in post-internet music. Musicians like Nourished by Time and Bar Italia echo ideas and textures Blunt explored years earlier, underscoring “The Redeemer’s” lasting impact.
