Animal Magic

For better or worse, the Internet has made it easy to satisfy a jones. No matter how exotic one's taste is, a couple of clicks will have your yen bubble-wrapped at your door. Unfortunately for me, my jones for Amon Tobin was satisfied too quickly. I needed more. With the release of the "4 Ton Mantis" single I got more. (Excuse me? Just what does Amon Tobin have to do with Bonobo? Just a moment. I'm getting there.) The "4 Ton Mantis" single featured a very tasty remix by Bonobo, a remix that triggered the jones. After too many search engines coughed up pages listing scientific papers on Australian pygmy monkeys (that's what a bonobo is), I download mp3 (legally) sound unheard, and now I have a new monkey on my back.

The Amon Tobin vibe is definitely there, especially on "Dinosaurs," "Shadowtricks," and "Sugar Rhyme." Both artists groove hard and share a fondness for muted horns (I think they may even share samples of muted horns) that make for fine nocturnal listenings. Mr. Tobin even gets a thanks in the liner notes. But where Amon Tobin is all about beats, Bonobo has a keen ear for melody and a lighter touch programming drum and percussion tracks, making him a little easier to listen to. Still, it's a fine line and I can see time adding layers of rhythmic complexity to Bonobo's compositions. In any case, if you jones for a tasty, noirish blend of beats and jazz, "Animal Magic" is a fine fix.

Addendum: The "Album Details" makes reference to "Some Sitar." "Some" is a recurring bit on a single track ("Terrapin"). I suppose it qualifies, but if you're looking for a heavy Indian influence, look elsewhere.

Download Animal Magic mp3

Dial M for Monkey

Simon Green’s 2000 debut, Animal Magic, still sounds marvellous on a moonlit night, if indistinguishable from dozens of downtempo albums that took inspiration from it. Green’s been raking in the royalties since that influential first outing, leaving a Moby-style dilemma for his sophomore effort: could Dial M for Monkey follow the formula and become a commercial success or would it manage to surprise? In truth, Green’s pony has fewer tricks. It’s no massive departure, whatever the intention. As the title suggests, Dial . . . sticks to its predecessors’ cinematic formula, letting Green’s glorious melodies seep into the consciousness gradually, then buzz around the head like a trapped gnat. "Pick Up" raises the tempo, but Green’s ear for a key-change eventually takes things to moodier depths, remaining there with "Something for Windy" and "Light Pattern." Like the shy kid who secretly prefers violin to gym, Green probably couldn’t change tactics if he tried. Good thing, too.
Download Dial M for Monkey mp3