Posted by: Cor
Being a huge Bonobo fan, I originally planned to post my thoughts on his new album Black Sands on the very day of its release, almost a month ago. His last three albums are among my favorites in the downtempo genre, and I think his knack for incorporating and arranging acoustic instruments among his electronic elements gives his music more depth than 98% of the downtempo artists out there.* So naturally I expected to give a listen to the album, find a few highlights, rattle off some superlative praise and the post would write itself.
However, after my first few listens to Black Sands, I was left disappointed. I just didn’t like it. The textures sounded muddy, the rhythms uncoordinated, the percussion sloppy. Bonobo had taken another step away from drum loops and sample-based grooves of his earlier albums, and ventured further in to the territory of loose, organic production. Less quantization, more live percussion. Less synth, more vocals. At what point does this become smooth jazz, or worse, adult contemporary?
As I might have expected (and did, but not without worry) after several weeks Black Sands eventually won me over. It’s a slow burn. Bonobo’s emphasis on live instrumentation and looser layering of parts reminds me of a relaxed, half-drunk jazz combo playing the music. All the complimentary melodic phrases, all the supporting harmonies that make up the pieces are indeed there, but they don’t announce themselves like a high synth-line cutting through at the perfect frequency and timbre to be heard above all else. This music isn’t immediately accessible, but it rewards repeats listening when you begin to anticipate the arrival of that one final part that really makes the song for you… the subtle one you didn’t notice it the first few times you heard the song.
Because of this, I’d suggest using the ‘play all’ button below and giving these songs a few listens in the background (maybe over a few days, while you work) before writing it off. Perhaps it won’t take as long to grow on you as it did for me. Perhaps it won’t grow on you at all. Just know that you’re not going to get what you came for by skipping through the tracks listening for highlights. **
The Keeper feat. Andreya Triana
PLAY ALL
Download the full Black Sands album on Amazon
Last thing, if you like what you’re hearing from Bonobo here, and you like what you’ve heard from Bonobo before, then why not come hear him play live? He’s going to be performing (yes, performing, not DJing) at the Mezzanine THIS FRIDAY. I’m going. Who wants to come with me? Get tickets here.
* Scientifically valid statistic, I swear.
** A habit I’m far more guilty of than anyone else I know.
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