Weekly Release Spotlight: Bibio
Posted on 7/21/2009
Bibio
Ambivalence Avenue
[Warp]
Rarely does a record's name completely encapsulate its sound, but ambivalence is the name of the game on Bibio's latest release. Swinging wildly from one extreme to another, Ambivalence Avenue can't seem to decide whether it wants to be folk, dance, electronic, ambient, or even hip hop.
Like our friends (and former Weekly Release Spotlight subjects) Black Moth Super Rainbow, Bibio combines elements of all these genres. But unlike BMSR, who combine these elements within each song to create a signature sound, Bibio (aka British producer Stephen Wilkison) takes a different approach. The songs are distinctly different from one another, but the glue that holds the record together is the low-fi quality and laid-back nature, creating a perfect soundtrack for a sunny summer day. The songs alternate between acoustic ballads - the down-tempo, scratchy acoustic sound of the title track, "Abrasion" and "All the Flowers" recalls the film strips you probably watched in elementary school - while "Jealous of Roses" and "Fire Ant" are decidedly danceable. "S'vive" and "Cry! Baby!" combine the best of both worlds - folky guitar, synthesizer beeps and blips, and a hip hop beat.
Perhaps it's telling that when importing the album into iTunes, the genre comes up as "easy listening." While Ambivalence Avenue isn't boring by any means (it's more upbeat than fellow electronic/hip hop combiners Talkdemonic), Wilkison successfully makes a coherent record out of several genres that at first glance seem like they would contradict each other (hello, ambivalence!). It's definitely easy listening, but in the best way possible.
Stream: Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
Written by Dana Raidt, Radio K volunteer.