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MH-234 Bibio - Fi  Recommended to Mush by Marcus Eoin of Boards Of Canada, the debut release from central England's Stephen Wilkinson (aka Bibio) is a triumph of saturation, distortion, and musical obscurity. Comprised of seventeen ambient songs built on samples of his own work rather than the work of others, Fi is rich in musical imagery. Using manipulated live instrumentation, field recordings, and a strong portion of effects, Bibio's musical influences - the Incredible String Band, Joao Gilberto, My Bloody Valentine, Tortoise, and the producers of Warp Records - seep into his compositions. Bibio's debut is a revelation in the emotional power of lo-fi ambient compositions and clearly establishes him as a producer who has developed his own unique voice. |
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| Reviews Summary |
| Quietly captivating - Daily Telegraph / Immediately arresting - The Wire / The perfect music to dream by - Spin / Hypnotic - Exclaim! / Truly memorable stuff - 3D World / Exquisite - 3Hive / Recommended listening - Boomkat / The most relaxing experience you've ever felt - Impact Press |
| Reviews | |
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| Steven Wilkenson’s Bibio project (a name that refers to a specific fishing lure his father used to use) masterfully occupies the space between free form folk and atmospheric electronica. A self taught musician, Wilkenson became interested in electronic music while in college when he was introduced to sound of Warp Records. His production style relies in part on his own field recordings. He processes these ‘found sounds’ only slightly; layering them piece-meal to achieve a sort of low-fi, graininess. This makes for rich multi-faceted aural textures. The use of original recorded sound to create atmosphere, as opposed to “prepackaged” samples or synth patchs, gives his compositions a uniquely genuine feel. Bibio’s adept soundscaping betrays his creative debt to the Boards of Canada. Once the foundation has been set, he adds layers of acoustic guitar played by himself.Again, he does lots of experimenting with tone and texture-- his guitar can sound plucky or warbly; balmy or frosty; swimming in reverb or clean-- as the situation merits.Occasionally he crafts sparse rhythm parts and even the odd verse. This he does sparingly though, always allowing plenty of room for the beautiful ambiance of his guitar to breath. Both of these records are similar but not necessarily interchangeable- Hand Cranked being somewhat of a logical extension of Fi. Both have widely ranging mood. Sounding at times celestial (Bewley In White: Fi) and at times wistful and lonely (Puddled in The Morning: Fi and Quantock: Hand Cranked). Some stand outs for me are Poplar Avenue(Fi) with it’s delicate array of revolving guitar parts; Wet Flakey Bark (Fi) a perfect soundtrack for a bleary ride through a deserted landscape in the mist of the morning’s early hours; and the aptly titled Overgrown which quietly winds Hand Cranked to conclusion. Equally suitable as bedtime/background music or for a peaceful solitary stroll. Both albums are ace! And I’d be hard pressed to recommend one over the other. - Atticus' Bloggimus |
1XLP/Out Of Print