Bonobo - Dial 'M' For Monkey

Bonobo delivers another album of outstanding downtempo. The opening track on DIAL 'M' FOR MONKEY, "Noctuary," maintains the delicate melodies of ANIMAL MAGIC, while "Flutter" brightens the mood with a sitar and bells. The rhythms here, for the most part, are mellow and nicely syncopated to maintain listener interest. Listen to how the funky beat of "Change Down" drops out at the end to lift the track into pure bliss or how the zither loop at the start of "Wayward Bob" leads both to a calming jazz and to an urgent mystery. "Pick Up" keeps the tempo up, even as the short but beautiful "Something for Windy" whistles itself into the ether. "Nothing Owed" whips itself up into a guitar and saxophone wonderland, and "Light Pattern" ends the album in that same vein. Forget dialing "M"; dial "B" for Bonobo!

One of the few albums where I've enjoyed every track. Bonobo reminds me of Amon Tobin a lot on this release, but in a much more light-hearted way. While Tobin follows the DnB doctorine of heavy and sinister basslines, Bonobo drops simple meodies over his, and it comes across totally different, while still sounding similar.

As I said, I liked every track but if I had to pick a favorite, it would have to be the first track 'Noctuary.' The simple drum beat combined with the guitar and the all encompassing background hum just make for a very relaxing song.