Album Review: Bonobo - The North Borders
- Written by Rob Crozier
Simon Green, better known by his alter ego Bonobo, created a wonderfully beautiful and very successful album in 2010 with the acclaimed Black Sands. This new album, The North Borders attempts to builds upon this success. His hallmark style of beautifully layered bass, haunting vocals and electronic sounds sees Bonobo in familiar territory. 
It is clear that Bonobo has blossomed into a real creative force on the electronic scene. Although no standout track appears like 'Kong' did on his previous album, this new album has a beautiful ebb and flow quality to it. This is an album rather than a collection of individual tracks and Bonobo moves you through the the piece effortlessly.
Bonobo has created a reputation that he has built since escaping to Brighton as a young man. Green has, over a number of successful albums created wonderful electronically sculptured sounds. His place in downtempo electronic music is widely regarded. It is slightly unfortunately that this album does not deliver on the high expectations of the waiting public.
This is illustrated with Bonobo's use of guest vocalist most noticeably the nu-soul legend Erykah Badu. The fourth track on the album 'Heaven for the Sinner' sees Bonobo use her vocals to create a downtempo, distorted crackling vinyl sound. Although Bonobo’s ability to create a wonderful platform for Badu is evident it feels like it is a slightly missed opportunity on a collaboration that promised more than it delivered.
This is not to say that the album does not have highlights. The stand out tracks incorporate a few different styles. The first few tracks see cuts such as 'Emkay' continuing the signature Bonobo style from previous albums. With lazy kicking drums accompanying layers of bass and sampled vocals with electronic strings that entice your ears. The following track 'Cirrus' continues the uptempo theme with a bassey head bobber of a track this builds to create a wonderfully funky laid-back vibe with great use of hypnotic bass lines.
At times Bonobo creates sounds that envelope you and warm you like a good cuppa. The album’s highlight comes towards the end of the album with the track 'Antenna'. An infectious foot tapper that sees Bonobo creating an oriental feel with jangling sounds via flute and bells sampled to great effect. This is a wonderfully crafted piece of music that displays Green’s talents to their fullest. This is a beautiful track which invites the listener to reflect on a gorgeous hour of music which although good, may still not quite be what his awaiting public were expecting.
The North Borders is out now and available from amazon