Bonobo

Simon Green has been experimenting with incorporating more and more live samples into his compositions, including a fantastic live show in which he plays bass rather than a laptop, and with his latest record it seems his live band are really beginning to blossom. It helps that the majority of the tracks on Days to Come have the welcome assistance of vocalists such as the raspy soul of Bajka, who lends her smoky vocals to four tunes, all with positive results as Green focuses more on simple song structures rather than trying to keep his instrumentals evolving. Label-mate Fink, known for producing hot dance tunes, manages to bring a soft romantic tone to "If You Stayed Over,” where he takes an unexpected stab at singing that works surprisingly well. Though half the album is vocal-based the other half consists of signature instrumentals as we’re treated to a grand assortment of electronic rhythms that are fused with rich bass, horns and loose snares to give everything the organic vibe that the Brighton producer has been known for. Bonobo managed to shake of the chill-out label bestowed on him after his Animal Magic debut and has advanced his sound just enough to keep listeners interested, especially considering this could very well be his best release to date.