Ambivalence Avenue (LP) - Bibio
(Warp Records)
Released June 23, 2009
By David Zielinski
Looking at the résumé of Bibio (a.k.a., British producer Stephen Wilkinson), accessibility does not appear to be a major driving force in his artistic career. Studying "sonic arts" in Middlesex England, he developed an interest in experimental music, which would lead him to work with the Scottish experimental electronic outfit Boards of Canada. All signs suggest his solo work would be a dense smattering of ambient sounds, droning background noise, and synth chords that last longer than they should. Surprisingly, he shatters any preconceived notions of what he should sound like with several albums full of dreamy acoustic guitar phrases affected by distortions, filters, and any garage sale equipment he could find. While his previous efforts have had their merit, after a while it seemed that he, too, was facing the same criticism much of the ambient music that shaped him faced: it all sounded the same. However, on Ambivalence Avenue, his Warp records debut, he develops his sound and, in turn, has produced one of the most surprising albums of 2009.
The opening title track is a fitting starting point since it is a good representation of Bibio's unique strengths. A simple clean guitar line layered over string and horn samples create a summery pop tone that permeates the rest of the album. Bibio is at his best when he channels summer-of-love British folk on tracks such as "All the Flowers" and "Abrasion." His vocals confirm this influence as the album is filled with layered harmonies as well as capable falsetto.
Ambivalence Avenue's most pleasant surprise is that many of its strongest moments are when Bibio strays from his finger-picked-guitar-with-obligatory-sample-and-beat formula. He ventures further into his electronic upbringing on tracks such as "Fire Ant," in which the repeated vocal line and classic hip-hop beat are more akin to Flying Lotus than anything Boards of Canada would ever conceivably do. He even dips his toes into some light 8-bit synth work on "Sugarette."
Ambivalence Avenue draws from so many influences and sounds that it may seem at first as though the album has no cohesiveness. The constant shift from Bibio's folk to electronic tendencies creates a disjointed flow that may be off-putting to some, but after repeated listens the two instincts merge into a collage of sound that forms the perfect summer album. Bibio's strength is fundamental, but difficult: he creates songs that each have their own character and feeling where in the end, the whole is not necessarily greater than the sum of its parts.
David Zielinski is a guitarist currently performing solo throughout Atlanta and Athens, Georgia. He is currently working on an untitled blues and pop EP to be released later in the year.
