Rating:
Genre:
Electronica
Release Date: 06/17/2003
Simon Green's
Bonobo project may not have the respect of discriminating, forward-thinking
electronica fans, but his melody-driven
downbeat pop is no less interesting for its lack of processing power -- in fact,
Dial "M" for Monkey is more intriguing for its focus on discernible melodies as well as
experimental samples.
Green's second proper
Bonobo album is a model of structure and economy; though he uses just a few elements for each song and rarely varies the rhythm, the results are always compelling listening. Breakbeats power most of these tracks, befitting its release on
Ninja Tune, though much like labelmate
Fog,
Green's interests don't lie in
hip-hop or even
trip-hop; his influences encompass
alternative rock (
"Something for Windy" is reminiscent of
the Cure) and
world music (are those Indonesian
gamelan bells driving
"D Song" or something from a children's toy?).
~John Bush, All Music Guide