Bonobo - Black Sands

There are a few new strands woven into the tapestry of Simon Green’s Bonobo. The surprises start with Kiara Prelude, whose lush strings drop into warm, distinctly electronic breakbeats laced with sub bass and a swash of cut-up vocal samples. The electronic influences continue on the hip-hop / jazz hybrid of Swing, and the sparse but soulful 2-step of Eyesdown. Even more familiar-sounding tracks such as All in Forms have a warm digital sheen to them. Green pulls this off without once compromising the epic, organic sweep he achieved on Days To Come. Andreya Treyana’s vocals pack less punch than previous collaborator Bajka, but she does lend an earthy, soulful quality to the album. Its closing title track is an understated waltz which effortlessly shows Green’s skills as a composer and producer, on a par with labelmates The Cinematic Orchestra. He also has at least one ear still on the bassbins. The results are simultaneously beautiful and heavy. [Bram Gieben]