Bondax - Revolve

Bondax
Revolve
2018
Spotify

Sometims you have to go on a deep dive to find something exciting. That is how I ended up at the UK electronic duo Bondax. The duo have been making music for five or six years, but have finally released their debut record Revolve. The album is simply put a fucking groove. From the first moment when these beautiful ambient sounds like flowing water and a breezy meadow are interrupted by a backbeat to break your damn hips. They blend electronica, house and jazz to create this really immersive experience. The sound fills you ears and surrounds you with the warm feeling soul music gives you, but then the electronics set it free to experiment and move. The album is so light on it's feet that it can shift sounds and vibes at a moments notice. It leaves you always interested wondering what could be around the next corner. "What You Do" has this Caribbean through line in it that turns it into this beautiful beach side soundtrack. However it doesn't skimp on the bass as about halfway in a gentle group of horns come in amongst this deep electronic bass. You don't want to take this sound out of your ears as it just continues to climb and get better and better. There is a freedom to their sound that doesn't feel limitless like jazz often tries to be. They aren't free forming ideas but they are taking that idea of musical freedom and running with it. They aren't going to be restrained by genre or expectation and that's something that is always interesting, as long as it's good.

"Air" featuring Duckwrth is the one track with rapping on it, and while it may seem like a attempt to get in the hip hop producing game it ends up sounding wholly transcendent. It reminds you of Kendrick's untitled unmastered. which had a big time jazz feel to it. On "Horizon" the vocals don't do the track many favors as the heavy electronic beats slips far behind J Warner's best Usher impression. "Give It Back" has this wormy sound to it, coming in and out of existence with punctuating beats. The one thing you are really missing here is some of the more club inspired sounds of Bondax's past. They get into smooth groves but never get into something truly big an bold. This album is far more relaxed and easy than some of their earlier stuff, on one hand a more refined and grown up sound, but on the other less exuberant energy. "Eyes on You" has this moment that kinda sounds reminiscent of dub step, but there is a flamenco guitar and the bass never goes all in. It feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. However in the end there is something to be said for being delicate. This album takes the pressure off and manages to exist in it's own world. I'm happy to exist in that world with it for awhile, and I think you will too.

8.1 out of 10