7/10
Despite being a thoroughly well-respected name in the electronic community for many years, producer Bonobo only saw his commercial ambitions realised on his previous full-length 'The North Borders'. Although it was his fifth studio album to date, it was the first that made a real impact on an international level. Since then, the beatmaker has seen his career soar and after a few years, is ready to deliver its follow-up, 'Migration'.
Much like his previous release, this new album sees a large chunk of its material as collaborations with other forward-thinking artists like himself. And while contributions from others certainly bring a new angle to the fold, it is his own musical soundscapes that steal the show on this new record. It seems to take on a river-like flow throughout each track on the album, calm yet subtle in design and always looking to present you to a fascinating journey.
It may not have that instant rapport that we felt when listening to 'The North Borders' for the first time, but definitely manages to give us more than a simple recreation of his previous work. 'Migration' sees the producer testing more of his capabilities as a songwriter and, at times, delivers real beauty.