Official repress! Thanks to the relatively newly minted Beat Delete site, spearheaded by Ninja Tune, we’re lucky to get this repress of Bonobo‘s debut LP. Originally released by the UK’s True Thoughts and later picked up by Ninja Tune, the album is a standout of the downtempo scene from the early 2000s. Bonobo’s sample based productions are filled with dynamic shifts that add a layer of depth not often found on similar records. It’s loop based material, for sure, but there’s a sense of subtlety as the songs run their course. Once you get past the mellow vibes of “Sleepy Seven” you’re treated to the one two punch of “Dinosaurs” and “Kota.” Heavy breaks underpin both cuts, while “Kota” serves to pick up the pace. From there the motor is running and nearly every track is a memorable one, from the mournful sax of “The Plug” to the breakneck beats of “Sugar Rhyme.” It’s no wonder there was enough demand to get this release back in print.

• black double vinyl pressing
• original release year: 2000
• music label: Tru Thoughts 2013

reviewed by Michu Meszaros 10/2013