Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ingredients of Inspiration on this downtempo disc, May 12, 2002
There's a paper waiting to happen that discusses why everyone with a computer, some string samples and a half-speed beat thinks they can make quality downtempo music. Just look at the sheer volume of modern lounge material released monthly, repackaged ten different ways with all the hot nametags. Much of it has craftsmanship, but how much has inspiration?That's the noticeable ingredient on Simon Green (Bonobo's) slow motion debut Animal Magic. Within the rich textures of each track, and the earnest instrumentation - chimes and Asian cooing on "Sleepy Seven", sitar, keyboard twinkles and back-looped voices of "Terrrapin" the idea and the hook are clearly felt. Highly lauded "Kota" has already been a huge hit, the guitar plucks, swooning strings, and present bass thump woven into heartfelt song. "The Plug" slowly winds in muted horns, (again) stylized strings, and a slice of old soul that somehow Moby missed. Near the end, Green even opens it up a bit, closing with some cranked up drum programming and jazz showmanship. It's a cohesive album with an appreciably diverse field of sounds within. Not quite a five star wonder, perhaps, but as the work of one man? Superb. Next time you have the itch for a Now That's What I Call Chill factory comp, what say you give an artist album a try instead?
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
FOR ALL YOU CHILL-HEADS!!!, September 13, 2004
Bonobo is one of those artists who typically shows up on chill-out compilation sets--maybe a little too often--but the man does indeed put the C in Chill-out. From beginning to end Bonobo's very ambitious debut, Animal Magic, is a wave of druggy downtempo tracks reminiscent of work from a more laid back Amon Tobin. That's no wonder since Bonobo mentions him in his liner notes as well as has remixed a song or two of his. Songs like the haunting "Sleepy Seven", the enchanting "Shadowtricks", the the Tobin-esque "Kota", and the melanchonic "Terrapin" are all stand-out tracks that showcase Bonobo's talents.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
gorgeous dub from a new ninja, December 13, 2001
Bonobo, a new signing to the magnificent Ninja Tune label (those underground cats who can do no wrong), will surely please those who know proper records don't sell 10 million copies and aren't found at the Virgin megastore.
I will keep this short and sweet, as not much really needs to be said about "Animal Magic", other than it's flat out beautiful, soulful music, quite mellow and damn near impossible to throw into any one genre- which is what makes a good record.. the downfall of the whole music industry and all it's cookie-cutter bands/groups is that they all try to stay within one genre, so that the record can be easily and neatly placed in the proper section at your local K-Mart. Back to the matter at hand...
"Animal Magic" would probably be found in your "trip-hop" section of the record store, as most of the songs are beat driven, though blues, soul, and a touch of jazz play a part as well. If you're familiar with the brilliant Amon Tobin, you'll probably find much of this record similar to Amon's down-tempo work, though Bonobo's music is sweeter, gentler, not quite as devious as the sinister Amon's. I realize that this review doesn't give you any idea of what the record actually sounds like, so sample some of the tunes and hear for yourself- if you dig slow, lush, genre bending lounge music, you're in for a treat. WARNING: Trance dancing candy ravers- this album is boring, and you're better off sticking to your one-dimensional cheese beats. Go get the new Paul Oakenfold disc. This album probably has a bit too much substance for your Ecstacy-riddled minds to bear.
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