Album Review: Bonobo - The North Borders

When it comes to 'downbeat' sounds, Brit producer Simon Green is freeways ahead of most of his peers. Through four lush, intricate, highly musical albums, Green has built an untouchable reputation and his most recent album, 2010's genius Black Sands set the bar sky-high for everybody, himself included. His new album, The North Borders, is in some ways a continuation of this sound yet in many ways another evolutionary step. With the addition of bigger, stronger and in some cases faster drums, the foolhardy might even be tempted to pronounce it Bonobo's 'dance' album. The evidence for this isn't immediately apparent; opener, First Fires, featuring American folkster Grey Reverend, begins deep, dark and dramatic before reaching for the skies with the addition of soaring live strings.

It's at this point proceedings become more energetic. Emkay's bouncy, metallic riddims are paired with chopped vocals reminiscent of the '90s deep house sound, reappearing on Know You, which might suggest US 2-step pioneer Todd Edwards if it were not for a rather punchy breakbeat roughing things up underneath. Elsewhere, first single, Cirrus' 4/4 beats and descending, almost Eastern chimes build into something utterly hypnotic. The great Erykah Badu forms a mutual appreciation society with Green on the spiritual-yet-sexy Heaven For The Sinner while the fornicative vibes boil over on the magical Jets with its vaguely tribal percussion, vinyl crackles and disembodied “oohs” and “ahhs”.

Though in some ways a route recalculation for Bonobo, The North Borders has maintained his jaw-dropping ear for melody and near-autistic attention to detail, creating another remarkable album that deserves all the accolades it will no doubt receive.