Bibio-A Mineral Love: From 1960s soul through to ’70s funk, with a touch of prog

A Mineral Love
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Artist: Bibio
Genre: Electronic
Label: Warp

For his seventh album, Wolverhampton’s

Stephen Wilkinson

wanted to create a record that both “celebrates the sacred and precious struggles of human insecurities” and paid homage to his love of making music.

Whatever about the former, he certainly succeeds on the latter front. This collection runs the gamut from 1960s soul through to '70s funk (Town & Country), Laurel Canyon-style folk (Raxeira) and even incorporates a touch of prog (Gasoline & Mirrors), while the Gotye-featuring The Way You Talk sounds like an odd combo of early-'80s Phil Collins and Enya.

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The contemporary edge of Bibio's canon comes to the fore on songs like Feeling, although the chic little melodies heard on opener Petals do become repetitive. It's as oddly engrossing as it sounds, but more day-enhancing than life-changing.

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy is a freelance journalist and broadcaster. She writes about music and the arts for The Irish Times