Album of the Month: Bonobo – North Borders
House |
Wednesday 19th June 2013 | Cristina
Simon Green (also known as Bonobo) released his fifth album on May 21 and it has been the soundtrack to our summer, we're sure its influence will continue to echo throughout the UK. The album is a noticeable departure from Green’s fourth release Black Sands but without any shocking changes of direction – the transition feels smooth and will please both old and new fans of Bonobo.
North Borders’ production is ever so slightly slicker than we’ve seen before in Bonobo, with sparkling synths resounding away in the background of some of the warmest sounding house released this year. High profile guest musician Erykah Badu provides the best collaboration on the album in ‘Heaven for the Sinner’, Badu’s timeless vocals the perfect accompaniment to Bonobo’s cavernous and soulful sound.
At times recalling James Blake and Four Tet the album encapsulates the depth and elegance of the post-dubstep, post-dancefloor sound which has emerged out of electronic music in the past few years. It may be described as safe by some, and by others perhaps compared to more experimental efforts such as Mount Kimbie’s Cold Spring Faultless Youth. However North Borders is described well by its album art – a mysterious and beautiful place resounding with gentle beats and a charm that lies in their slow-moving subtlety.
The tracklisting of the album is as follows:
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First Fires
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Emkay
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Cirrus
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Heaven for the Sinner
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Sapphire
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Jets
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Towers
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Don't Wait
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Know You
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Antenna
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Ten Tigers
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Transits
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Pieces
Cristina Trujillo | @cristinaxt | http://liacasino.blogspot.co.uk/