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EDIT INFOBonobo - Dial 'M' For Monkey
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Album Details
- Artist: Bonobo
- Album: Dial 'M' For Monkey
- Label: Ninja Tunes
- Year of Release: 2003
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-08-18
RecommendDial 'M' For Monkey is Bonobo's sophomore release for Ninja Tune and follows along the path that Simon Green laid down with Animal Magic. If you have had enough of "chill out" music then you might be a hard sell on Bonobo. That's exactly what Simon does with this project but if there were more acts of this calibre then you might actually still be listening to chill out music. The downtempo beats that Simon Green creates as Bonobo are the ideal soundtrack for that late evening cocktail and effortless enjoyment of subtle beats. While Dial 'M' is a very easy listen, it is very complicated as well. There is a lot going on in the background to keep your attention on what's important. It's interesting and yet you could put this album on repeat for an entire day and not be put off by repetitiveness. The album starts out with "Nocturnary" and sets the pace for what to expect on the rest of the album. Simon never really gets going. Instead he is content with the laid back beats that Bonobo does so well. This will be one of the better albums that probably won't see much more that college charts. Too bad for Simon but a nice little undiscovered gem for those of us who care.
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on 2009-06-18 muddyfish_uk Said:
Downtempo music often slips by the wayside due to so many of the genre's residents producing mediocre lounge music, which fits in all too comfortably with dinner parties and polite discussions over wine and tapas. Because of this, intelligent downtempo acts often become overlooked - and in Bonobo's case; this is a grave injustice.
'Dial 'M' for Monkey' is undoubtedly one of the most influential albums, not just within the downtempo genre, but within electronica as a whole. The use of organic instrumentation layered over a platter of soothing atmospherics is pulled off perfectly and the exquisite method of composition is such, that each track builds and unwinds at the same time producing a wonderful effect when given the level of attention the record deserves. The intelligent and precise composition doesn't prevent 'Dial 'M' for Monkey' from being great background music (downtempo will always have a place reserved in the background) however, it would be a tragic waste of a great record for it to remain there.
Rating: 9/10
