Maybe if Daedelus or Four Tet had a predilection for acoustic guitar and harmonies, it would sound like Vignetting the Compost. Or maybe if Leo Kottke was really into electronics, he cold make this record.
I suppose that’s hyperbole, Bibio isn’t as good at guitar as Kottke or adept at production as Four Tet, but wherever the meeting ground is between those two points, that’s where this release sits.
There really isn’t a great deal of info on this guy – just a brief review here and the obligatory press release from Mush Records.
Despite the fact that this disc counts as Bibio’s third (the two previous efforts are also on Mush), the sense of wonderment and enthusiasm seems as strong and virile as if it were his first outing. That’s the hallmark of a great musician though. And listening to this disc, one gets the sense that even without a label behind this guy, he’d still be cranking out music.
The tunes that he churns out do touch on the aforementioned IDM production and Takoma style guitar. But he sings too. Not exactly the high points of the disc, but the vocals fit well enough not to detract from the overall affect. There are birds chirping, looped record crackles and various nature sounds to contend with. Somehow Bibio is able to draw them altogether on each track in some different way. It’s similar in a lot of ways to Colleen or even Lori Scacco. But either way, Vignetting the Compost comes highly recommended for relaxing, going to sleep or feeling good on a lazy day. - Alternative Music Talk |
