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XX
NEWS
MUSIC
BONOBO
The xx
T
here's theories of how, why and when music
first appeared. One view sees early structured
sounds as a social glue: harmonising humans
into communities, moulding behaviour and
fulfilling a need to belong.
Tens of thousands of
years later
–
the internet
age
–
humans have similar
needs and songs have
the same potential, just
on a different scale. It's
a power well understood
by musician and producer
Simon Green, AKA Bonobo.
His albums all connect with
a rare resonance. Samples
are selected, instruments
are played and everything
is arranged with sensitivity.
Migration
continues Bonobo's
survey of emotions, music, and
geography, or in his words, "the
study of people and spaces...
It's interesting how one person
will take an influence from one
part of the world and move with
that influence and affect another
part of the world. Over time, the
identities of places evolve." And
so
Migration
forms an affecting
and effective journey into sound.
Contributions are made from
fellow travellers Rhye, and our
own Nick Murphy.
Migration
by Bonobo is
out January 13
via Ninja Tune/
Inertia.
T
here's no shortage of wild
armchair interpretations out
there for the King of Pop's intricate
Dangerous
album cover (plenty of
which claim they've found the key
to Jackson's Illuminati leanings)
–
but that was likely the the goal of
artist Mark Ryden. The notoriously
cryptic pop-surrealist painter took six
months to meld a sea of symbols
pertaining to Jackson's life, with a
common circus-esque thread holding
them together. Does the crowned
chimpanzee signify a puppet world
leader installed by shadowy forces?
Is it an allusion to mankind before
we were corrupted by a secret elite?
Is it simply Jackson's beloved pet
Bubbles? Whatever the truth, the
record became one of the best-selling
albums of all time, spawning several
#1 singles including the perennial
favourite
Black Or White
.
WHAT'S THE
STORY?
We have a look back
at the fascinating
tales behind some of
our favourite album
covers.
THIS MONTH:
Dangerous,
Michael Jackson (1991)
E
veryone you meet is jamming in the street all night long, says Lionel
Richie, and I'm not about to argue with that pillar of the musical
community. 2017 has begun with several fireworks in its pants; Kasey
Chambers, Dropkick Murphys, The Flaming Lips, The xx, Bonobo, Austra,
Mick Harvey, Code Orange and The McClymonts have all stepped it up, with
plenty more in the (wind beneath your) wings. HNY!
Zo
ë
Radas (Music Editor)
Words
Simon Winkler
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