By Jenell Taylor, Contributor

[WORLD MUSIC; 2025]

Rating: 8/10

On Feb. 7, Dean Blunt released a 16-minute collaborative album with Danish alternative-indie artist, Elias Rønnenfelt, titled lucre. Dean Blunt has released much music in the past with several monikers and groups, including Babyfather and Hype Williams. His last release titled “chucking it” featuring Copanhagen-based techno artist Nova Varnrable, was released in 2024. lucre in particular adds a refined feel to his discography, without Blunt’s distinct voice ever touching a single track. 

lucre is not uncharted territory for Blunt, as his music has always been drenched in synths and reverb. The title itself means money, but is regarded as having been obtained in a dishonorable fashion. This is typical for Blunt, with much of his lyrics concerning the soul and in what ways worldly affairs affect the state of it. What makes lucre so different is that while it’s Rønnenfelt’s vocals that we hear on all seven tracks, Blunt’s prolific presence is somehow felt even more. Track “1” opens with Rønnenfelt chanting “Da-da-da” over and over until he is joined by a light strumming of guitar. He continues with lyrics of being unshakable and bringing death to your pain. Blunt’s masterful mixing and guitar skills are shown right away, giving us a clue that lucre is more than its lyrical subject matter, but also Blunt’s love letter to the dedication of his craft.

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As the tracks play on, each one becomes slightly more complex in its instrumental qualities. It relies heavily on the emphasis of guitar, but luckily the synth board makes itself a just as valuable component. Track “3” has a notable change in beat that occurs halfway through that encapsulates the feeling of remembering a memory you thought you’d forgotten. The slow guitar distortion abruptly switches to a steady drum line as the pace is picked up. Consequently, Rønnenfelt’s vocals remain at the same speed, never speeding up or slowing down in relation to the track’s instrumentals. This aspect in particular makes lucre a standout on its own. Blunt’s ability to completely change the flow of his music yet make it blend together in a cohesive manner is displayed here, and done with great capability. 

Track “4” deviates from the other tracks in its instrumental capacity. The reeling guitar and symbol crashes are 80s-esque and reminiscent of songs by The Cure, even mirroring their signature fade-out style. It is bright and upbeat, shifting from the rather sad disposition heard in the other tracks. This style is different from Blunt’s other music, in the fact that it exists at a pace much quicker than his other songs do. Without drawing too much attention to itself, “4” finds its place in lucre with grace and offers an enjoyable change of pace. 

The closer further showcases Blunt’s musicality and his ability to blend genres seamlessly and with purpose. “7” opens with a tender and expressive violin, which is then juxtaposed by heavy electric guitar. Rønnenfelt adds to the track with his repetition of  “yeah” and lyrics, “I don’t wanna die in vain, or / Never come down from the heights.” His voice has a slight rasp, matching the intensity of the guitar while simultaneously falling in rhythm with the gentle violin. A perfect album closer, “7” wraps up lucre in a silk bow, and Rønnenfelt’s cushy vocals deliver it to listeners with care.

lucre is a lovely and welcome addition to Dean Blunt’s discography and will hopefully alert more listeners to the force that is Elias Rønnenfelt. Blunt’s use of discordance and dissonance dance together artistically to create a sound that can only be described as kaleidoscopic. I hope to hear more music from these two, and lucre will reverberate in my mind for the foreseeable future. 

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/76qQt7n5SKtIa38BmZxvl4?si=bHB870YcR16PkRRwmwfZVA