Simon Green, the DJ mastermind behind Bonobo, has become the Willy Wonka of the downtempo electronica scene, raising the genre to a new level that others cannot seem to reach. It is not very often that one comes upon an artist that can blend a taste of trip hop with slices of ambient jazz to create a sound that relaxes and moves you. Despite the fact that Bonobo’s popularity disseminated mostly by word of mouth, his album Black Sands (2010) was a huge success, and missing the Bonobo live band when it passes through your town is recognized as fandom suicide.
As a result, Green is giving the people what they want by releasing a compilation of his most noted performances throughout his latest tour in his newest album The North Borders Tour – Live, which was released October 6th. The aestheticism that Bonobo has emitted throughout 30 countries and 175 shows on the North Borders Tour is something that you do not want to miss, and with his Golden Ticket & Platinum Ticket Competition across Europe, you won’t have to.
Whether you are looking for a beat to jam to or a meditative sound wave, The North Borders delivers. “Antenna” is a mix of soothing rhythms that could either narrate your dream world or lay the foundation for some rap flow, and this unique phenomena is swiftly followed by the equally captivating “Ten Tigers.” These tracks exhibit Green’s ear for a variety of tranquilizing and exciting sounds, as if he had birthed the love child of Flying Lotus and Emancipator.
But he takes this music vortex a step further by masterfully incorporating the soulful vocals of Grey Reverend in “First Fires” and creating a stirring sensation in “Transits” with the help of Szjerdene’s feminine tranquility. The final track “Pieces” featuring Cornelia emits a feeling of nostalgia for having finished listening. Glitch smoothed over with soft percussion and airy vocals certainly makes for a tasteful closing to the album. Check out some other Bonobo essentials here.