Internationally, Bonobo is now well and truly massive, one of Ninja Tune’s biggest acts – and ‘The North Borders’ is only likely to extend that appeal, with a sound that occupies more centre ground than ‘Black Sands’. Simon Green brings his customary expertise to the string arrangements, and has carefully chosen his vocalists to complement the slightly downbeat mood. Grey Reverend is excellent in the opener ‘’, while Erykah Badu’s wonderfully sonorous lower register is a treat to listen to on ‘’. Perhaps the most successful tracks are those where Green brings more percussion in to the mix, reflecting perhaps his world travels in the Eastern-tinged ‘’, while ‘’ also makes its understated impact. This experimentation suits him well, and shows he has the potential to explore further afield.
4 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
