07 – Bobo – Nowhere [ERB012]

Contact: detectionaudio@gmail.com

In the modern era of electronic music it’s been a bit of a rare commodity to see artists release full albums. Label’s mainly focus on mini EP’s, the selected artists stay within the constraints of the labels sound and probably wouldn’t even be touched if an EP ever ventured too far away from what’s expected. There’s an inner beauty to a full extensive piece of work, it’s an opportunity to channel total imagination and provides an emotional insight into the creative mind of the artist.

This is something that ‘Bobo’ clearly wanted to explore. He’s got an experienced hand and respectable repertoire of EP’s under his belt releasing over the years with Gestalt, Gun-Finger Food, Jerk It MCR and Out of Sorts. His music bridges the gap between breaks and techno, but he can now truly spread his wings towards the ambient solitude-inducing side of his music. The headz at Brummie label ‘Erbium’ are ready to exert something special from the rising talent. ERB012 presents a full 8-tracker of cathartic intelligence and sonic atmospheres from the Swedish born Manchester based artist and delves head-first into the melancholic aspect of underground club music.

We enter Bobo’s new world with an outer-worldly ambient composition entitled ‘Fishguard’. The opening scene emits a crushed huddle of metallic synths and ghostly pads that are compressed by design to hiss in the background like an oncoming swarm. Colliding with them is a gritty sub-bass and hushed junglistic breaks. You don’t hear them often, but they crash in-and-out at alternative moments to amplify the tension and remind you that there’s an edge breaking through. ‘Beyond this realm’ is up next and channels a Burial vibe in the intro with it’s distorted pads, scattered vinyl crack and chopped vocals. The bassline is magic and harks back to the 90’s with a stunning nostalgia-pumoing breaks joy that’s jammed with peak-time energy and emotional liberation.

‘Data Dump’ curtails into UKG territory but is patterned with Bobo’s ethereal style. It’s a descent from the highs of it’s predecessor and deviates back into the merky neck of the woods with it’s pumping 2-step energy and rumbling bass. ‘Rebellion’ transports us into a gloomy sphere, lost and looking for any sign of life. It feels like a tentative, downtempo export through a darkened chamber. Dripping in cold atmosphere with twists and turns round every corner as glowing pads and synths echo in the distance to provide a glimmer of hope.

‘Spray’ is a dosage of contemplative spirituality. The lights in the distance were in fact the sanctuary that we had been looking for. Now safe, a moment to reflect on what had come before. Bobo has a wicked knack for composing his breaks and drums with crystal clear physicality, like he is playing them himself, and they merge beautifully with the serene atmospheres that he creates with every track. ‘Spray’ provides one of those ‘Happy to be alive’ moments where you can just forget about all of your problems, breathe for a few moments and then look to the sky to map out the future.

It’s weird how music can illustrate pictures in your head to alleviate some of the inner thoughts that we place in the deep sections of our brain. Sounds being used as paint brushes to truly illuminate the senses and open the mind. ‘Svefn’ scores a sepia tinged city-scape with rain pouring on the seemingly opaque lens, as hundreds of little lights flicker amongst themselves in tender chaos. There’s a vulnerability about this piece. It’s like Bobo is longing for something and maybe yearning back to a time when everything was simpler. His emotional presence is fully felt by now and the dreamers and thinkers of this world will feel fully connected to the personification of his music.

Our premiere is ‘Nowhere’, the descent back into reality and realisation that it’s time to make thing happen. Bobo breathes power into the mix with a thumping kick and teeth-gritting snares. Chattering hats, the overdrawn bass and rasping breaks generate a tenacious energy to really ramp up the atmosphere and tension like it’s a race against time. DJ’s would make great use of this one at the latter stages of a set when the mist of the night is setting in and the d-floor is in full spiritual flow.

Lastly is ‘It Never Ends’. The intro erodes away all of the dark clouds and make’s way for a beautiful ending to the album. ‘INE’ is a belter of the highest order and feels reminiscent of of a classic Bicep-esque breaks flavour. It’s peak-time goodness, smiles on faces and goosebumps hitting every last fibre on your body as the breaks and bass get the blood pumping and the alluring synth-line glows through-out like a burning ember.

Pre-order: https://bit.ly/3w5Zea0

Bobo: https://bit.ly/3ZM4Kwv

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