Dial ‘M’ for Monkey

Following his previous compilation of remixes and b sides, the second full-length artist album from Bonobo presents sophisticated, thematic instrumental electronica, based around hip hop beats and a sample palette that sounds as though it includes library music, 60s mod soundtracks, lounge and folk, the sound of charity shop records transmuted via the sampler into this mysterious, nocturnal and introspective album. 

Almost all the tracks are held down by hip hop-style sampled drum breaks, even when he wanders into, for example, a waltz time signature on Wayward Bob, but that’s where the hip hop link ends. Much of the music, in its sound palette of horns, harps, acoustic strums and gentle flutes, and in the peaks and troughs of the unfurling arrangements is closer to soul jazz, soundtracks or some exotic international genre hybrid. Mesmerising, dreamy, melodic and sophisticated.