Bibio Ambivalence Avenue
Stephen Wilkinson’s latest Bibio disc blends together many of the disparate strands that now comprise […]
Stephen Wilkinson’s latest Bibio disc blends together many of the disparate strands that now comprise Warp Records, so it’s fitting that he’d drop it on the label’s 20th anniversary. It’s even more impressive that his production sounds fresh despite fitting squarely within a style—dope beats, funky samples, warm textures—that’s bulky and bloated with cut-rate copies. Perhaps it’s because his electro-acoustic tracks are eclectic without being scattershot, ably switching from the glitchy backbeats of “Fire Ant” to the smooth, summery groove of “Lovers’ Carvings.” And poignant tracks like “Abrasion” and “The Palm of Your Wave” show he’s not just flirting with folk. Wilkinson has taken a sonic palette that’s been muddled by many and created a quiet gem.