With ‘Kingdoms In Colour’ Maribou State really are reaching for the skies. This is a wonderfully positive album of inventive electronic music with hooks and bags of personality, enjoying a fresh air approach to music. Although carefully produced it has a very instinctive feel and enjoys looking outside the box, with the band sourcing some of their melodic content from much further afield than previously, including field recordings to complement their inventions. ‘Turnmills’, an ode to the club of the same name, has a sublime string line, while ‘Kingdom’ has a spring in its step. Houston trio Khruangbin appear on the upward looking ‘Feel Good’, which captures the approach Maribou State have throughout, enjoying their music and wanting everyone else to enjoy it too. If you like your beats a bit broken and have previously warmed to Bonobo, this is most definitely for you – and in fact Maribou State on this evidence could be every bit as big as their stable mates
Ben Hogwood
5 out of 5
