Bibio

TheOwlMag on Bibio

Bibio Silver Wilkinson [Warp]

Silver Wilkinson is the promise of Bibio fulfilled. On his fourth Warp Records release (seventh overall), Stephen Wilkinson plays to his strengths as an alchemist of folk, electronic, and any other genre he deems worthy.

“Somebody waits for you, maybe too long for you,” whispers a voice filtered through a mist that is part scratched vinyl, part modified memory. Wilkinson is content to drift on his inner tube (or cloud) all day. The use of field recordings on the lugubrious “Wulf” and the plaintive “Raincoat” signify the world whizzing by. An acoustic interlude is interrupted by speakers bumping nearby. Migrating from Dirty South fluidity to Chi-City chopped up soul, “You” (like “Fire Ant” before it) keeps Bibio at the forefront of artists who could revive hip-hop production if they wanted to.

After thirty minutes of reclining, Wilkinson reluctantly stands upright and breaks out his dance moves. The two step trance of “Look At Orion!” leisurely builds to the freak out of “Business Park,” which synthesizes dark wave menace and progressive noodling into something utterly contemporary. Immediately following the exertion, the album goes horizontal again, but does not succumb to sleep. Bibio and his meditative machinery remain fully charged.

KCRW's Jason Bentley on Bibio

Played "A Tout A L'Heure" 03/18/2013 9:44 am

TheOwlMag on Bibio

Bibio Mind Bokeh [Warp Records (2011)]

Bibio (British producer Stephen Wilkinson) makes music that can best be described as the soundtrack to your daydreams. His first release with Warp, 2009’s Ambivilance Avenue presented a more mature and soulful sound than that of his previous endeavors. Bibio’s latest album exemplifies an even greater departure from his folk-tinged early work. Mind Bokeh abandons the wistful lo-fi feel of his first few releases, providing a tasty array of playful electronic jams.

“Excuses,” introduces Bibio’s more polished sound as it descends from warped chimes into glitchy electronic bursts. “Pretentious” is the album’s stand-out track, delivering soulful vocals over throbbing bass and loops reminiscent of an out-of-tune music box. “Light Seep” and “Feminine Eye” are similarly soulful and sexy. “Take off your shirt” feels a bit out of place with its glam-rock guitar riffs and dance-y hooks, but is a great track nonetheless. “K is for Kelson” conjures images of a romp at the beach with a pretty girl, and the closing track, “St. Christopher,” is a soothing, ambient lullaby.

Mind Bokeh may leave fans of Bibio’s early stuff feeling a bit alienated. For new listeners and those on board with his stylistic evolution, however, the album is a must-have collection of feel-good songs for summer time.

KCRW's Jason Bentley on Bibio

Played "Lover's Carvings (Leatherette Remix)" 11/14/2012 11:59 am

Guardian UK's New Band Of The Day on Bibio

Imagine Aphex Twin fiddling with the back catalogue of the Incredible String Band and you'll have an idea of the wistful sampladelia of this debut Warp release Hometown: London. The lineup: Stephen Wilkinson (vocals, instruments). The background: There has been a lot of talk recently, on the back of Island's 50th birthday, about labels, and about which ones have managed to sustain the quality of their output for the longest period. Some imprints elicit the sort of devotion normally enjoyed by single artists or bands, and you buy whatever they put out because you know you're guaranteed something fine. Most people are in agreement about Motown and Rough Trade, and there is a currently a consensus about Island being the best of them all...more at guardian.co.uk

Quit Mumbling on Bibio

Tweet The day is done, the day is done, the day is done and it's sunny as hell. Here's to you, Los Angeles - go do something outside! Bibio - "K Is For Kelson" more here

Quit Mumbling on Bibio

Tweet The day is done, the day is done, the day is done and it's sunny as hell. Here's to you, Los Angeles - go do something outside! Bibio - "K Is For Kelson" more at elbo.ws

Pitchfork Best Albums on Bibio

Album "Ambivalence Avenue" scored 8.3

Bibio released Vignetting the Compost just five months ago, and it seemed to cement his status as a pleasant one-trick pony. So it's shocking how utterly and successfully he rewrites his playbook on t...

covertcuriosity on Bibio

Bibio is the recording project of multi-instrumentalist Stephen Wilkinson. more at blogspot.com