Migration | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 13 January 2017 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 61:53 | |||
Label | Ninja Tune | |||
Producer | Simon Green | |||
Bonobo chronology | ||||
|
Migration is the sixth studio album by British DJ and record producer Simon Green, performing under the name Bonobo. It was released on 13 January 2017 through Ninja Tune. The album was recorded primarily on laptops rather than in a studio. It was supported by the release of several singles, including "Kerala". The album received generally positive reviews from critics and charted internationally, reaching the top five of the UK Albums Chart.
Migration was primarily written and recorded while Green was still on tour for his previous album, The North Borders . [4] After the completion of the tour, Green completed a move from New York City to the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. [5] The move, as well as the travelling for the tour and the deaths of some family members, led Green to contemplate on themes of identity, migration, and the environment. [6] Because the tour for The North Borders consisted of approximately 175 shows across three continents for about eighteen months, the music for Migration was mainly created on a laptop as opposed to the studio environments of Green's previous albums. [5] [7]
Neil Krug served as the art director for the album. [8] Green had tasked Krug to create artwork that was "beautifully sinister". [9] Krug and Green decided that the artwork should be ambiguous and tease a thematically darker narrative. [10] As a result, the artwork, which was captured in four hours, depicts the "Martian" landscapes of the Mojave Desert. [11] [8] The images were then digitally manipulated to add as much colour as possible "without being ridiculous". [9]
The lead single, "Kerala", was released on 3 November 2016. The music video features Gemma Arterton attempting to run away from a meteor in a London suburb. [12] [13] "Break Apart" was released next on 6 December 2016. [14] The third single, "No Reason", was released on 10 January 2017. [15] The album was released by Ninja Tune on 13 January 2017. [16]
As of 12 July 2017, Migration has sold 16,000 copies in the United States. [17]
An alternative music video for "Break Apart" was released on 25 October 2017. [18]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.2/10 [19] |
Metacritic | 77/100 [20] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [21] |
Exclaim! | 8/10 [22] |
The Guardian | [1] |
The Irish Times | [23] |
Mixmag | 9/10 [24] |
Mojo | [25] |
The Observer | [26] |
Pitchfork | 7.3/10 [2] |
Q | [27] |
The Times | [28] |
Upon release, Migration received positive reviews by music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 77, based on twenty reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. [20]
Stephen Worthy of Mixmag called the album a "music-making masterclass" and praised its political themes and undertones. [24] Writing for Exclaim! , Daryl Keating also highlighted the album's thematic elements: "Bonobo questions the very nature of home ... The result is an extremely reflective record, just a few shades more tranquil than his last two albums, but easily matching their well-produced splendour." [22]
Some reviewers criticised the album for being unenterprising and too similar to Green's previous album, The North Borders. Andrew Ryce of Resident Advisor contrasted the album's themes with its cautious style, writing, "But rather than taking his sound anywhere, Migration stays put." [29] In a mixed review for The Observer , Emily Mackay similarly criticised the album, calling it "a sonically rich album, perfect for gazing dreamily out of windows at passing landscapes, even if it doesn't reach any new destinations". [26]
Migration was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, though the award ultimately went to Kraftwerk for 3-D The Catalogue . The lead track "Bambro Koyo Ganda" was nominated for Best Dance Recording, which was ultimately won by LCD Soundsystem for "Tonite". [30] The album won the Album of the Year award at the 2017 Electronic Music Awards. [31]
All tracks are written by Simon Green, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Migration" |
| 5:27 |
2. | "Break Apart" (featuring Rhye) | 4:34 | |
3. | "Outlier" | 7:55 | |
4. | "Grains" | 4:28 | |
5. | "Second Sun" |
| 3:43 |
6. | "Surface" (featuring Nicole Miglis) | 4:11 | |
7. | "Bambro Koyo Ganda" (featuring Innov Gnawa) | 5:02 | |
8. | "Kerala" | 3:57 | |
9. | "Ontario" | 3:52 | |
10. | "No Reason" (featuring Nick Murphy) |
| 7:28 |
11. | "7th Sevens" | 5:07 | |
12. | "Figures" | 6:08 | |
Total length: | 61:53 |
Chart (2017) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [32] | 12 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [33] | 15 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [34] | 6 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [35] | 20 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [36] | 9 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [37] | 10 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [38] | 33 |
French Albums (SNEP) [39] | 35 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [40] | 11 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [41] | 40 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) [42] | 15 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [43] | 49 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [44] | 27 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [45] | 16 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [46] | 15 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [47] | 5 |
UK Albums (OCC) [48] | 5 |
UK Dance Albums (OCC) [49] | 1 |
US Billboard 200 [50] | 59 |
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard) [51] | 1 |
Chart (2017) | Rank |
---|---|
Australian Dance Albums (ARIA) [52] | 42 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [53] | 119 |
Dutch Vinyl Albums (MegaCharts) [54] | 45 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [55] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Simon Green, known by his stage name Bonobo, is an English musician, producer, and DJ based in Los Angeles. He debuted with a trip hop aesthetic and has since explored more upbeat approaches as well as jazz and world music influences. His electronic sound incorporates the use of organic instrumentation and is recreated by a full band in live performances.
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released on March 23, 2004. Released by Geffen Records in part because of the delay in the making of Chinese Democracy, the album was subject to lawsuits by band member Axl Rose and former band members, in an attempt to block its release due to its track listing.
This Is Happening is the third studio album by American rock band LCD Soundsystem. It was released first on May 17, 2010, jointly through DFA and Virgin Records in the United States and Parlophone elsewhere. It was recorded over the course of 2009 and early 2010 in the Mansion recording studio in Los Angeles. The first single, "Pow Pow", was released in April 2010, with a music video directed by Spike Jonze. The album is dedicated to Jerry Fuchs (1974–2009), who performed drums live with the band on occasion, as well as having a big part in associated DFA acts.
The discography of American indie rock band the National consists of ten studio albums, two extended plays (EPs), thirteen singles and nine music videos. The band's first two albums, were released by Brassland Records. Their next two albums were released by Beggars Banquet Records, and their subsequent albums were released by 4AD.
This Is All Yours is the second album by English indie rock band alt-J, released on 22 September 2014 through Infectious. It was promoted with four singles: "Hunger of the Pine", "Left Hand Free", "Every Other Freckle", and "Warm Foothills". It topped the UK Albums Chart, was runner up in Belgium, Australia, and Canada and reached #4 in the United States. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
Carrie & Lowell is the seventh studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens. It was released on March 31, 2015, by Asthmatic Kitty. It was produced by Stevens, and features guest contributions from Thomas Bartlett, Sean Carey, Casey Foubert, Ben Lester, Nedelle Torrisi, and Laura Veirs.
Skin is the second studio album by Australian electronic musician Flume. It was released on 27 May 2016 by Future Classic. The album was Flume's second full-length release following his self-titled debut in 2012. It features guest appearances from Kai, Vic Mensa, Kučka, Tove Lo, Vince Staples, Allan Kingdom, Raekwon, Little Dragon, AlunaGeorge, MNDR, and Beck.
Suicide Squad: The Album is the soundtrack album to the film of the same name. It was released on August 5, 2016, by Atlantic Records and WaterTower Music. A separate film score album, titled Suicide Squad: Original Motion Picture Score and composed by Steven Price, was released on August 8, by WaterTower Music. The digital edition of the film score album contains eight bonus tracks. It received mixed reviews by critics, but the Collector's Edition received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 2017 ceremony. It won the 2017 Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite Soundtrack.
Revolution Radio is the twelfth studio album by the American rock band Green Day, released on October 7, 2016 through Reprise Records. A self-produced effort, it marked their first release since 2009's 21st Century Breakdown not to be produced by longtime producer Rob Cavallo. It is also their first release since that album to be recorded as a trio. Green Day's previous three albums ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré! featured touring guitarist Jason White temporarily joining the band in the studio.
You Want It Darker is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, released on October 21, 2016, by Columbia Records, 17 days before Cohen's death. The album was created at the end of his life and focuses on death, God, and humor. It was released to critical acclaim. The title track was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance in January 2018. It was Cohen's last album released during his lifetime and was followed by the posthumous album Thanks for the Dance in November 2019.
Starboy is the third studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, released on November 25, 2016, through XO and Republic Records. It features guest appearances from Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, and Future. As the album's executive producers, the Weeknd and Doc McKinney enlisted a variety of producers such as Diplo, Cashmere Cat, Metro Boomin, Frank Dukes, and Labrinth, among others.
Legacy (The Very Best of David Bowie) (also known as Legacy) is a greatest hits album by English musician David Bowie, released on 11 November 2016 through Sony Music Entertainment in the US and Warner Music Group in the UK and several territories. Legacy marks Bowie’s first title to reach 400 weeks on the UK albums chart and is one of the albums which have spent the most weeks on the chart.
Damn is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, released on April 14, 2017, through Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Lamar assembled numerous artists and producers to produce the album, including executive producer and Top Dawg Entertainment label-head Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Mike Will Made It, and Ricci Riera, as well as further production contributions from James Blake, Steve Lacy, BadBadNotGood, Greg Kurstin, the Alchemist, and 9th Wonder, among others. It features guest appearances from Rihanna, Zacari, and U2.
The Ooz is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Archy Marshall, and his second album under the stage name King Krule. It was released on 13 October 2017 via True Panther Sounds and XL Recordings. The album incorporates elements of trip hop, R&B, punk rock, and jazz.
Without Warning is a collaborative studio album by British-American rapper 21 Savage, American rapper Offset, and American record producer Metro Boomin. The album was released on October 31, 2017, by Slaughter Gang, Epic Records, Capitol Records, Motown, Quality Control Music, Boominati Worldwide, and Republic Records. It features guest appearances from Travis Scott and Quavo. Meanwhile, the album's production was handled primarily by Metro Boomin, alongside Bijan Amir, Cubeatz, Dre Moon, and Southside. Without Warning peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200, and received generally positive reviews from critics.
Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho is the only studio album by American hip hop duo Huncho Jack, which consists of Travis Scott and Quavo. The album was released on December 21, 2017, by Cactus Jack Records, Grand Hustle Records, Epic Records, Capitol Records, Motown, and Quality Control Music. It features guest appearances from fellow Migos members, Takeoff and Offset. Production was handled by Murda Beatz, Southside, and Frank Dukes, among others.
Astroworld is the third studio album by American rapper Travis Scott. It was released on August 3, 2018, through Cactus Jack Records and Grand Hustle Records, and distributed by Epic Records. The album features guest vocals from Frank Ocean, Drake, Swae Lee, Kid Cudi, James Blake, Philip Bailey, Juice Wrld, Sheck Wes, the Weeknd, 21 Savage, Gunna, Nav, Don Toliver, Quavo, and Takeoff, among others. Production was handled by multiple producers, including Scott himself, Mike Dean, Allen Ritter, Hit-Boy, WondaGurl, Tay Keith, Tame Impala, Frank Dukes, Sonny Digital, Murda Beatz, and Thundercat, among others. The album follows Scott's second studio album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016), and his collaborative album with Quavo, Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho (2017).
Homecoming: The Live Album is the fifth live album by American singer Beyoncé, recorded from her two headlining Coachella performances in April 2018. It was released on April 17, 2019. The album accompanied a concert film documenting the performance, Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé, which premiered the same day on the streaming platform Netflix. The album was also released on vinyl, on December 4, 2020.
Oasis is a collaborative album by Colombian singer J Balvin and Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, released on June 28, 2019. The pair previously collaborated on Cardi B's 2018 single "I Like It". "Qué Pretendes" was released as the lead single with a video alongside the album, being later followed by "La Canción", "Yo Le Llego", and "Cuidao por Ahí".
Fragments is the seventh studio album by British musician Bonobo. It was released on 14 January 2022 under Ninja Tune and was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album for the 65th Grammy Awards.