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Image via Unsplash.
Sounds like:
Four Tet,
Flying Lotus,
Boards of Canada
Why do we like this?
I managed to get my hands on the new Bibio album Mind Bokeh before its release on March 29. This is one of my most anticipated albums of late, so it's safe to say that I was expecting big things. Stephen James Wilkinson's 2009 release Ambivalence Avenue was a genre defying masterpiece. It was my initial introduction to the signature Bibio sound of folk inspired hip-hop tossed with some modern electronica for added flavor; quite the mixture of individual styles, if you ask me.
Mind Bokeh carries much of the same tone as Wilkinson's previous albums, combining playful, summer-inspired beats with vintage melodies and nostalgic vocals. I'll admit I didn't enjoy every song on this album, but like its predecessors, the songs that I do like really make an impact.
One of the stand-out tracks for me is "K is for Kelson." It's quite a jolly song that could make even the most troubled soul forget their worries. Warp Records has an interesting little blurb about the song on their site that describes the instruments that Wilkinson used to create all of the individual layers. A couple of them are pretty unique, and they definitely help set the tone for what you can expect when you turn on any Bibio track:
"Saint Christopher" is by far my favorite track on the album. The structure differs from the rest of the songs, straying from Bibio's vintage hip-hop feel to an uplifting piece of electronica that rivals the work of Four Tet. Wilkinson may be experimenting with some new techniques here, and although I'm a big fan of his current style, I see a lot of potential for beautiful music if he continues to hone in on the sound that gives "Saint Christopher" the power to captivate my mind for six and a half minutes. Could this be the meaning behind Mind Bokeh?
Mind Bokeh carries much of the same tone as Wilkinson's previous albums, combining playful, summer-inspired beats with vintage melodies and nostalgic vocals. I'll admit I didn't enjoy every song on this album, but like its predecessors, the songs that I do like really make an impact.
One of the stand-out tracks for me is "K is for Kelson." It's quite a jolly song that could make even the most troubled soul forget their worries. Warp Records has an interesting little blurb about the song on their site that describes the instruments that Wilkinson used to create all of the individual layers. A couple of them are pretty unique, and they definitely help set the tone for what you can expect when you turn on any Bibio track:
- Archtop Jazz Guitar
- Electric Bass guitar
- Rhodes Electric Piano
- Analogue Monophonic Synthesizer
- Wine and Whisky Bottles filled with water
- Various Shakers
- Brandy Glass
- Hand Claps
- Chinese Silk Fan (as kick drum)
- Bermibau
- Plastic Bottle of Water (as shaker)
- Voice
- Talk Box
"Saint Christopher" is by far my favorite track on the album. The structure differs from the rest of the songs, straying from Bibio's vintage hip-hop feel to an uplifting piece of electronica that rivals the work of Four Tet. Wilkinson may be experimenting with some new techniques here, and although I'm a big fan of his current style, I see a lot of potential for beautiful music if he continues to hone in on the sound that gives "Saint Christopher" the power to captivate my mind for six and a half minutes. Could this be the meaning behind Mind Bokeh?
Streaming source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq286qCYsQc
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