Ave.

The artist Bibio does not work strictly out of one genre, in fact he doesn’t even limit his sound to several genres, he covers damn near all of them on his debut record. If this album truly is Ambivalence Avenue than his neighbors must be J Dilla, Crystal Castles, Fleet Foxes, Radiohead and a whole bunch of beautiful girl next doors.

What is unified front to back on the record is its mood. It is an album that communicates not with the lyrics it presents, but the atmosphere it creates with its tongue in cheek melodies and rhythms. Many songs start as a tune that someone is humming in the room next door before morphing into musical journeys to places you know you have been, but have since forgotten. No one track gets too big to drown out the others and no track is too small to disappear or be forgotten. The scale is in perfect balance, no sooner have you opened your eyes from singing along to an inspired folk hymn than started unconsciously nodding to soul samples over muddled drums and a funky, driven bass line.

“Haikuesque” sounds like the conversation you have with yourself when you lose someone you love. An echoing guitar loop that evokes recollection of a lover, it’s the conversation you feel too fragile to share.

“S’Vive” opens with the sound of a wind up toy that lights up like a constellation in your ears before getting complimented by a perfectly matched lower end of bouncing drums and screwy bass. Different melodic vocals make pleasuring cameos to keep the song moving in its fantastic, experimental direction. Through all of this though, the foot-tapping magic keeps rolling.

Bibio seems to have extensive knowledge of many of the instruments used on AA and he also knows exactly how to get you to groove without ever having a drink in your hand. Do yourself a favor and spend a little time on the Ave., it will be your most honest dance yet.

Highlights: Fire Ant, S’Vive, and Haikuesque

FF: 7.9