A fantastic shift in a new direction
J. Butler | 06/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bibio's Ambivalence Avenue is one of those CDs you have to listen to a few times to really pick up, unlike some releases like Squarepusher's "Hello Everything" and most of what Boards of Canada releases. However, likewise you become very hooked on it in a short period of time.
It starts off with a track I had received a preview of weeks before (The title track) and I was a bit staggered to hear the use of guitars with wah pedals on the next track. There are high points in each track but you have to really let the songs progress to have them show through, which is not something I necessarily enjoy with most music but it is implemented well here, and it has a very good flow to it. I've yet to really grasp a lot of the songs but the album is still a fantastic listen overall.
Although I really got into Bibio through his ambient acoustic sounds, this album is really great. I'd recommend it to any fan of Chris Clark, FlyLo or J Dilla, though this is definitely not the place to look if you want ambient guitar vignettes--I'd definitely check Bibio's previous three albums first."
Wow
C. Haskins | Long Beach, CA | 08/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album was entirely unexpected less than half a year after "Vignetting the Compost" but more to the point its content took me completely by surprise. Gone is most of the ambient lo fi acoustic noodling that let you drift off. This stuff has a beat, some harsh 8 bit moments, definitely the use of an MPC and some groove. I love it. It is so far my favorite release of 2009. (I had extremely high hopes for I Monster's second release but it didn't quite wow me like the first)
Some aren't going to be pleased with this direction but I like his sound experimentation and there is still plenty of acoustic beauty on this album. Clear stand outs are Haikuesque and the palm of your wave. But the j dilla moments on Sugarette and Fire Ant are just awesome, gritty and satisfying. S'vive is pretty fun as well.
I like old Bibio but I welcome the new experimentation. He isn't breaking new ground here but he is really putting his own stamp on it and man does it work.
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