Saturday 22nd May 2010 @ Academy, Bristol

Bonobo, the musical mammals playing tonight at Bristol’s Academy – DJ Simon Green and his band – have quickly been elevated to the status of a somewhat dominant species in the fused genres of trip-hop, chill and electro. Their latest album, Black Sands, may be responsible for this.

At the Academy the crowd is swelling. People pour inside and the venue is absolutely brimming with an effervescing Bonobo crowd. “Bo-no-bo! Bo-no-bo! Bo-no-bo!” they beckon as the 12-piece band fill the stage. Even the bickering couple behind me are swept by the music into a convivial bounce as Kiara kicks off the evening; “I’m not discussing it now…I wanna listen to the Bonobo!”

Of course, the electronic elements are great but it is the band, headed by a triumvir of brass and woodwind players, that somehow exceed the incredible standard of the Black Sands album. The intense acoustic nuances are recaptured flawlessly and there is an eruption of applause as vocalist Andreya Triana takes to the stage for the epic track Stay The Same. Yet, an air of undecided caution looms – do we dare sing along and risk tainting Triana’s organic and formidable voice?

Everyone’s bouncing when, through the cool blue light, a prehistoric mist descends from a smoke machine and the electronic supreme Kong emerges, commanding and powerful. But let’s not forget the underlying tones of the chill genre here…and this is great chill music! But in the aftermath of the gig as my pulse is retreating to a comfortable level, their melodies are in my head and there are triumphant smiles of money-well-spent worn faces all around. The explanation is clear: Bonobo really are intelligent mammals to whom we can relate!

www.bonobomusic.com

Olly Newman
Photos by Della Emsworth