Conch Records
BOXSET: Bonobo - The North Borders 7x10" (PRE-ORDER ONLY)
Due out late March 2013 as a 7×10″ Boxset, to pre-order please contact us at info@conch.co.nz
It’s been almost three years since the release of Bonobo‘s masterful, mould-breaking Black Sands, an album that saw him touring a hypnotic live show across the world for well over a year. Now, in 2013, he stands ready to take things up yet another notch. The North Borders is a long stride forward – both a natural evolution and a continuation of the electronic palette of Black Sands. Thematic, resonant, addictive and perfectly formed, it’s a thrillingly coherent statement piece.UPCOMING: Bonobo - The North Borders (NINJA TUNE)
Due out late March 2013 on CD, 2LP+MP3 & 7x10" Boxset, to pre-order please contact us at info@conch.co.nz
It's been almost three years since the release of Bonobo's masterful, mould-breaking Black Sands, an album that saw him touring a hypnotic live show across the world for well over a year.
Now, in 2013, he stands ready to take things up yet another notch.
The North Borders is a long stride forward - both a natural evolution and a continuation of the electronic palette of Black Sands. Thematic, resonant, addictive and perfectly formed, it's a thrillingly coherent statement piece.
Simon Green was born and grew up in rural Hampshire, escaping to Brighton aged eighteen. There he fell into the jazz/hip hop/funk/soul scene centred around Rob Luis and nights like phonic:hoop. An accomplished musician as a teenager, he began producing his own tracks, pushing at the template established in the sweaty little venues studding the Lanes.
Green’s first release came on Luis’ label, Tru Thoughts, when his track 'Terrapin' was included on the compilation 'When Shapes Join Together' in 1999. His debut album, 'Animal Magic' followed the next year, completely self-produced and largely self-played, too. Hailed as one of the “new downtempo pioneers”, Green found himself attracting the attention of other labels and eventually signed to Ninja Tune.
In 2003 he released his first album for the label, 'Dial ‘M’ For Monkey'. This was a time when Green was also focussing heavily on his DJing, playing banging dancefloor sets of hip hop, funk and drum & bass up and down the country and across Europe, a period which reached its apogee with the release of the mix album 'Solid Steel: It Came From The Sea'.
'Days To Come' followed in 2006, Green opting for a lusher, more live sound than on his earlier records. To tie in with this musical development, he put together and rehearsed a live band that could bring the music of his records to life. As a result he has moved from selling out the Luminaire to selling out Koko to selling out Kentish Town Forum and the Roundhouse and producing the live DVD to prove it. 'Days To Come' also scooped the Gilles Peterson listnerer’s poll for Album of The Year. At the award ceremonies he met the talented UK soul singer Andreya Triana. Not only did the friendship they struck up result in Andreya’s superb contributions to 'Black Sands' but Si has produced the whole of her solo debut, 'Lost Where I Belong'.
Over the last couple of years, Bonobo has become one of the premier artists on the Ninja Tune imprint and certainly one of the most listened to, with over 16 million plays recorded on LastFM. His combination of superb live shows and studio wizardry means that he is now perfectly placed to push on into a yet bigger league. With 'Black Sands', Bonobo has made the record to achieve it.
Bonobo - Black Sands 2LP/CD (Ninja Tune)
Simon Green aka Bonobo returns with his fourth, most eagerly-anticipated and most accomplished album to date, the magnificent 'Black Sands.' Green proves once and for all with 'Black Sands' that he is an artist and producer with his sights set on much higher prizes than to rule any dusty subgenre of dance music. This is a record of epic reach and massive emotional pull, all held together by Green's understanding of composition and arrangement of live instruments (most of them also played by him) as well as his complete mastery of the tricks and techniques of the digital age. 'Black Sands' is the most contemporary record he has ever made.
Opening track 'Kiara' sets out Bonobo's stall quickly. Yes, there is an exquisite string refrain, reminiscent of Chinese art movies, but Green places this within the context of a thumping beat, deep synths and cut up vocals. 'Kong' seems closer to the soul-jazz template which has long influenced the Bonobo sound but each further listen showcases both the intricacy of his productions and the subtlety with which he achieves them. The skipping beat of 'Eyesdown' and the way he weaves Andreya Triana's vocals through layers of sub-bass show Green making his own moves with the influences of two-step. 'El Toro' brings a Brazilian flavour but without losing any of the hard snap of the beats. 'We Could Forever' combines high-life guitar lines with punishing, melancholy bass. First single, 'The Keeper' shows Green and Triana coming through with their most intense, emotional soul jam. 'All In Forms' once again combines a shimmering beauty with some serious beat 'n' bass action. 'Wonder When' showcases Andreya Triana's voice again, this time in the context of a polyrhythmic finger snapper which will lead to euphoric scenes on the dancefloor. 'Animals' sounds like Joy Division jamming with Steve Reich and a bloco band. Title track 'Black Sands' finishes the album with a perfectly judged, melancholy waltz, waves of horns swelling up to the kind of finale that sings in your ears even after it has stopped.
Since Simon Green's last album, 'Days To Come', he has become one of Ninja Tune's biggest artists worldwide, with over fifteen million plays on Last.FM and a series of sell out tours with his live band which have moved from venues such as the Luminaire to the Kentish Town Forum and the Roundhouse. This combination of superb live shows and studio wizardry means that he is now perfectly placed to push on into a yet bigger league. With 'Black Sands', Bonobo has made the progressive record to achieve it.
Tracklisting & Clips:
01 | Bonobo | Kiara Prelude | clip | |||
02 | Bonobo | Kiara | clip | |||
03 | Bonobo | Kong | clip | |||
04 | Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana | Eyesdown | clip | |||
05 | Bonobo | El Toro | clip | |||
06 | Bonobo | We Could Forever | clip | |||
07 | Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana | The Keeper | clip | |||
08 | Bonobo | All In Forms | clip | |||
09 | Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana | Wonder When | clip | |||
10 | Bonobo | Animals | clip | |||
11 | Bonobo | Black Sands | clip | |||
12 | n/a | n/a | clip |
Related Releases:
Bonobo Redbull Radio Mix
Videos: <object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10670542&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10670542&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/10670542">Bonobo - Eyesdown</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/ninjatune">Ninja Tune</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5638643&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5638643&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5638643">Bonobo - The Keeper featuring Andreya Triana</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/ninjatune">Ninja Tune</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
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