Long-awaited, Bonobo's 7th studio album, Distance in Static, is here. After "Drift" and "Always on Your Side" I knew we would be in for a ride, and without a surprise - Simon's music surpassed my expectations. After so many albums and songs, the British musician, producer, and DJ keeps finding that special recipe. No wonder he would never lose a spot in my personal top 5 artists. There's something beautifully open-ended about Bonobo at this point in his career - always moving, always exploring, but somehow never losing that unmistakable thread that makes his music feel like home.
Now, I'll be honest - while I love album release days and hitting the play button on that first track, as soon as I saw Nilüfer Yanya's name, I couldn't resist. I don’t regret it one bit.
"Youth's Fountain" blends a downtempo energy a-la-Black Sands with Nilüfer's alluring vocals and is beautifully sewn together by gorgeous-sounding drummings, perfect dynamics in the mix, and spacious jazz elements. Listening to the song is the most elevating experience I've felt in a while. A song designed to heal your soul.
Created through a number of sessions in LA, Tokyo, and London, the album feels like a gift. With an impressive list of collaborators, there's one thing left for me now - to go and explore. I'll try and come back with some thoughts soon!
Stream the full Distance in Static below.
Curious about Lu's view on all of this? I highly recommend checking out his All 7 Bonobo Albums Ranked article.
