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Bonobo — El Toro
Album: Black Sands
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2498









Released: 2010
Length: 3:44
Plays (last 30 days): 3
(instrumental)
Comments (132)add comment
Imagine all politicians, Putin and Xi, were one...
 fredriley wrote:

For those curious about the cover photo, it's of Walla Crag and Catbells, with Derwent Water, in the English Lake District, taken from the Castlerigg campsite. A place I know very well. 

That was an information announcement. We now returm you to your normal wibbling :o)


Awesome. I climbed Catbells once, many years ago. It really is as lovely as the photo around there.
Gets better and better!  7 -> 8 
 fredriley wrote:

For those curious about the cover photo, it's of Walla Crag and Catbells, with Derwent Water, in the English Lake District, taken from the Castlerigg campsite. A place I know very well. 

That was an information announcement. We now returm you to your normal wibbling :o)



:-)  I know it well too, my Mum used to live just outside Keswick
For those curious about the cover photo, it's of Walla Crag and Catbells, with Derwent Water, in the English Lake District, taken from the Castlerigg campsite. A place I know very well. 

That was an information announcement. We now returm you to your normal wibbling :o)
Great drums comparable to When The Levee Breaks
I am reminded yet again of my phobia of monkeys...
Bonobos are the coolest apes. Make love, not war :o)
Quite a band.
 wlmatl wrote:
This song and Kiara- I never get tired of...
 
and Nightlite!
The more I listen to Bonobo, the more I love him.
From Rod Stewart to Bonobo... LOVE RP! Why did it take me so long to find you!?
The drummer (Jack Baker, I believe) really gets after it.
This song and Kiara- I never get tired of...
 fritzler.mark617 wrote:
The drummer rocks! 
 
AGREED!!!!  Awesome!!
Bonobo rocks my world every time. Just beautiful funky music. His new stuff has lost a little of the funk but has a lot more of the soul. On balance, a satisfying evolution. :)
The drummer rocks! 
Barnaby Jones - 7pm TBS
 rosehearty973 wrote:
Listen via the Beta Website Player - link above.

Been listening to RP for years, first time I have known it to go down, but hey —- Just glad they play this music for us.

 
Thanks for the tip
Listen via the Beta Website Player - link above.

Been listening to RP for years, first time I have known it to go down, but hey —- Just glad they play this music for us.


8 hours, must either be catastrophic, or Bill is just sleeping through it
Still stuck since yesterday I see. :( Couldn't listen all day at work. App is fine though. Greetings from Switzerland! 
Pretty long outage going still I see

So much for "lightning never strikes twice"


 Wim-t wrote:
Yesterday it lasted for 5, 6 hours... I`m now playing on my phone connected to the stereo. Works fine with also good quality music.

 
Sadly, I have no iphone with apps.. only a landline at this time...... ENJOY the music.. Radio Paradise is the best,  .. these outages just help us realize how fragile the connections that link us across the globe.....    Radio Paradise is truly the best I have ever listened to ..   ENJOY  your tonight... I shall have tomorrow.. *smile*
Yesterday it lasted for 5, 6 hours... I`m now playing on my phone connected to the stereo. Works fine with also good quality music.


Thanks Wim-t ....

I thought it was just me... Radio Paradise isn't playing on my desk top for the past 45 minutes....but my friend has it on his iphone..  I have been searching for information about an outage, and never located it..  Have been rebooting and trying to see if it was just me... THANK YOU ....


Silence, no music....Server gone down again? Yesterday for hours.... Hopefully this time faster action! 
Very cute segue Bill - Gorillaz, Bonobo. I get it. {#Roflol}
I'm reminded of the RJD2 "A Beautiful Mine" (Mad Men theme) mashup with Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy", at least the drums. This tune more consistently keeps the pressure on, though, which I love.
 alanthecowboy wrote:

Jack isn't credited with the drumming on the album, although he does kill it live...

The album samples Port Authority Bus Blues.  Check it out, starting at around 3:10

 
According to the Wiki page, Jack Baker is playing the drums on this track.
 SquiddlyDiddly wrote:

Wrong. Its Jack Baker who has drummed for Bonobo since they started. While Bonobo do include electronic rhythms, most of the percussion is live.

In fact, I saw Bonobo play live last week with another fine, fine set. The audience (and me) rate Jacks drumming highly and we were given an excellent drum solo as part of the gig. 

His playing is mostly tight, sparse, technical with a hint of humour and a side order of Jazz. 

 
Jack isn't credited with the drumming on the album, although he does kill it live...

The album samples Port Authority Bus Blues.  Check it out, starting at around 3:10
Jack Baker is an amazing drummer. Phenomenal song. A solid 10.
Did Quantic sample from this? Sounds like Quantic.
love love love!!! {#Cheers}
This quite likeable song doesn't wear well for me over time, but I do enjoy it in the rotation.  It was "new" when I started listening to RP, so it has that nostalgia "bonus" for me.  
 OHMish wrote:
Excellent drum work

 
Phenomenal live show. Very tight and engaging.
For quite a while I figured this was a Mothers of Inventions instrumental.
Drums {#Drummer}
 Poacher wrote:

Wrong. Its Jack Baker who has drummed for Bonobo since they started. While Bonobo do include electronic rhythms, most of the percussion is live.

In fact, I saw Bonobo play live last week with another fine, fine set. The audience (and me) rate Jacks drumming highly and we were given an excellent drum solo as part of the gig. 

His playing is mostly tight, sparse, technical with a hint of humour and a side order of Jazz. 

 
Glad to see the comments on the drumming - you can tell he really enjoys playing this song. It just comes across.
 cshotton wrote:
This one is a bit overplayed... or at least I think so every time I hear it.

 
When you listen to a radio station, even one as diverse as RP, the songs that hook us are the ones we hear "the most". When the station is as diverse as RP, I'd say that was a compliment to Bonobo.
Nice drummin'

I love quite a large chunk of Bonobo,
this is quite a popular and well played example.



https://goo.gl/lOzZil

 


May be a bit overplayed, but this song is great on my nerves during a stressful day at work (and that's not a back-handed compliment, but a real one). I've also enjoyed hearing this pop up on NPR.

{#Bounce}
This one is a bit overplayed... or at least I think so every time I hear it.
Barnaby Jones.  Yet, I still like it!
 Poacher wrote:

His playing is mostly tight, sparse, technical with a hint of humour and a side order of Jazz. 

 
And most excellent it is too {#Drummer}
Gorillaz followed by Bonobo, hehe. Is the Monkeys next? Or the Kinks' Ape Man?
yeah. for some reason this tune has a really nostalgic feel to me.  Very 1950s.  Lounge-ish.  I don't like nostalgia, and for that reason am rating it lowly... the Bonobos aren't swinging in this song...
 Lumpy13 wrote:
I fear it is a drum machine.  At least it sounds that way upon a close listen on headphones.
 
Wrong. Its Jack Baker who has drummed for Bonobo since they started. While Bonobo do include electronic rhythms, most of the percussion is live.

In fact, I saw Bonobo play live last week with another fine, fine set. The audience (and me) rate Jacks drumming highly and we were given an excellent drum solo as part of the gig. 

His playing is mostly tight, sparse, technical with a hint of humour and a side order of Jazz. 
Wipeout in the modern era
 OHMish wrote:
Excellent drum work

 
I fear it is a drum machine.  At least it sounds that way upon a close listen on headphones.
Just checked their tour schedule. No live set in New York City, only DJ Sets?!?!
That is a bit of a surprise. You would think Bonobo would want to get as much buzz as possible in NYC. I must be missing something.
 BMTR wrote:
elevator Music {#Yawn}

 
Tinny speakers would not do this justice. Excellent!
 OHMish wrote:
Excellent drum work
 
Indeed, well spotted. I have seen him/them live three times and have been mesmerised. Some of the best drumming I have ever seen/heard.
 BlueBerryKush wrote:
This kinda reminds me of a theme song for a 1970's television detective series.  I do like it though...

 
I was literally about to write the same thing--that it sounds like a pastiche of 70s television shows... funny!
Excellent drum work
 oldfart48 wrote:
need more non vocal stuff, esp. when it's this good........{#Dance}

 
Seconded
need more non vocal stuff, esp. when it's this good........{#Dance}
 BMTR wrote:
elevator Music {#Yawn}

 
we be pushin' de up button.......{#Lol}
This kinda reminds me of a theme song for a 1970's television detective series.  I do like it though...
 BMTR wrote:
elevator Music {#Yawn}

 
Note to self: Check classifieds for openings as an elevator operator.
 BMTR wrote:
elevator Music {#Yawn}

 
Cool. I'd  be happy to hang out in that elevator for a while then.
NICE transition, Bill!
Great CD from start to finish. Clever packaging design too.
 BMTR wrote:
elevator Music {#Yawn}

 
No way dude .... This is Radio Paradise music.  I wouldn't trade it for anything !!
 have to agree...


BMTR wrote:
elevator Music {#Yawn}

 


elevator Music {#Yawn}
both radio paradise and m2 chillout are playing this song.

at the same time.

coinkydink.
Primates set!
Smooth, make me feel warm...
 kingart wrote:
Question: if the title of the album is Black Sands, why does the cover art depict a green jungle or forest somewhere and no beach or sand in sight? 
 
Beats me, but I assure you that the cover photo is not of a green jungle or forest, but of Walla Crag and Derwent Water in the English Lake District, taken from the Castlerigg campsite. I know for sure because I've stayed at that site many a time, and a beautiful peaceful place it is with stonking views to the Northern Lakes peaks. There is some sand on the shore of Derwent Water in places but it's not black. See the earlier comment which I've copied below:

 ShepHeard wrote:

You are indeed correct! Just got the vinyl version of this album, and it has a map on it. They had a competition on Ninja Tunes to win the Bonobo back catalogue if you could work out where it was...! (https://ninjatune.net/us/article/2010/feb/11/bonobo-black-sands-photos-map-competition) Which gives this map
 
 kingart wrote:
Question: if the title of the album is Black Sands, why does the cover art depict a green jungle or forest somewhere and no beach or sand in sight? 

".. like a love that is larger than desire, larger than fear,
if the (song) could be patient and wide as this evening,
this beach of black sand expecting the night
without fear..."  would you hear it over the din, would you try? would you want to?

BLACK SAND

By: Edward Baugh
URL: https://www.nyu.edu/calabash/vol4no2/0402021.pdf 

 


Question: if the title of the album is Black Sands, why does the cover art depict a green jungle or forest somewhere and no beach or sand in sight? 
 smackiepipe wrote:
May 3rd, and this is the 6th play of the month, so you're probably correct.
 
You may want to take a look at that again.  Today, Aug 6th, and it's showing 5 plays in the last 30 days.  That's a bit different than 5 plays this month.
This is sounding particularly tasty today.
Brutally tedious,
 coding_to_music wrote:
Great Drumming
 

Yes I agree and love the Skeleton Knocking his knees, brings a nice touch to a superb track.
8 —> 9
I'm really liking this! Think i might have to buy this album!
yeah, I can hear it.  Thanks for the post.  I think it's all of the thematic elements of the song that steered me towards Mangione / Gadd.  I've been looking online for the track that I knew so well, but it doesn't seem to be out there.  Other live versions of the song exist, but the one I know is probably only on vinyl.

alanthecowboy wrote:

According to whosampled, it's the drum break from "Port Authority Bus Lines" by Port Authority...  check it out:

https://www.whosampled.com/sample/view/75102/Bonobo-El%20Toro_Port%20Authority-Port%20Authority%20Bus%20Blues/

 


A good song, but certainly not the album's best one. "All in forms" or "the keeper" are much better.

Great Drumming
 ColdMiser wrote:
is it just me or do i hear this song every day on RP?
 
May 3rd, and this is the 6th play of the month, so you're probably correct.

It's growing on me a bit.
Gives one a slight case of the ol' Earworm,eh? ...Goodt riff, weird instrumentation, what's not to like?

That said, it reminds me a bit Mocean Worker in some weird way, which leads me to thinbk of Was/Not Was.
 blueskymind wrote:
A nice song for once in a while, but every day?  Too much Bonobo.  Gets stuck in your head badadadadada.....badadadada.... ick
 
 

Ha! That is why I rarely listen, too much repitition will make most songs go bad.  Bonobo has not been ruined for me!{#Nyah}{#Lol} Seriously though, if you listen only in short spurts every couple of months or so you will enjoy RP much more!{#Cheers}
A nice song for once in a while, but every day?  Too much Bonobo.  Gets stuck in your head badadadadada.....badadadada.... ick
 
 ABQ_rob wrote:
That drummer (at least the fills) would be the great Steve Gadd, sampled from Chuck Mangione's song 'Hill Where the Lord Hides'.  It's from one of the live versions with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, released in the 70's.  The whole song is an homage to that CM sound, between the spanish title, violins and soprano sax.

I've seen youTubes of a live Bonobo re-creation of the song, with a different drummer, but this version uses the Steve Gadd samples.

 
According to whosampled, it's the drum break from "Port Authority Bus Lines" by Port Authority...  check it out:

https://www.whosampled.com/sample/view/75102/Bonobo-El%20Toro_Port%20Authority-Port%20Authority%20Bus%20Blues/

I do not know why. But this song makes my soul glad. Nice drums lovely bass lines, simple yet good for me. God bless RP
Lovely tune!

8
 ColdMiser wrote:
is it just me or do i hear this song every day on RP?
 



There's several different ways to answer that. My favorite is: "Good for you, you get to listen to lots of RP."
That drummer (at least the fills) would be the great Steve Gadd, sampled from Chuck Mangione's song 'Hill Where the Lord Hides'.  It's from one of the live versions with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, released in the 70's.  The whole song an homage to that CM sound, between the spanish title, violins and soprano sax.

I've seen youTubes of a live Bonobo re-creation of the song, with a different drummer, but this version uses the Steve Gadd samples.
 alanthecowboy wrote:

You are not the least bit mistaken, sir...  I would be very interested to know who the monster on the drums is in this track; not too often you hear 'real' drums on ambient stuff, and this is some REAL drumming.
 

 ColdMiser wrote:
is it just me or do i hear this song every day on RP?
 
I think the way your question is phrased, none of us could answer it other than yourself as only you know what you hear ;)

It's about time I heard this again so I could rate it higher.
 ColdMiser wrote:
is it just me or do i hear this song every day on RP?
 
Heard it a couple of times and it's really growing on me... I've gotta look into getting some Bonobo

 ColdMiser wrote:
is it just me or do i hear this song every day on RP?
 
I think this is the first time I've heard it! Pretty enjoyable on first listen.

is it just me or do i hear this song every day on RP?
Background horns remind me of some Jr high band practice.  strange... very loose
 ShepHeard wrote:

You are indeed correct! Just got the vinyl version of this album, and it has a map on it. They had a competition on Ninja Tunes to win the Bonobo back catalogue if you could work out where it was...! (https://ninjatune.net/us/article/2010/feb/11/bonobo-black-sands-photos-map-competition) Which gives this map
 
Well f*ck my old boots! Mind you, the comp closed in February and I only visited the campsite in August, so I'd not have figured it out.

 ziggytrix wrote:
It's not really a group, it's just the one guy (Simon Green).  Not unlike Dangermouse or RJD2.

The tour musicians aren't band members as such.

I could be mistaken tho.

 
So is massive attack in the same ball park? as in there's 2 of them but also lots of supporting musicians or are they a band?

ps RJD2 is immense

 ziggytrix wrote:
It's not really a group, it's just the one guy (Simon Green).  Not unlike Dangermouse or RJD2.

The tour musicians aren't band members as such.

I could be mistaken tho.

 
You are not the least bit mistaken, sir...  I would be very interested to know who the monster on the drums is in this track; not too often you hear 'real' drums on ambient stuff, and this is some REAL drumming.

Tis a fine song English but tis no bull
 fredriley wrote:

I figured out where it was taken from - the Castlerigg campsite above Derwent Water, a little South of Keswick. I know for sure because I stayed there a month ago, and that radio mast is very distinctive. There's Walla Crag on the left, Derwent Water in the centre, and the Catbells ridge in the distance.
 
You are indeed correct! Just got the vinyl version of this album, and it has a map on it. They had a competition on Ninja Tunes to win the Bonobo back catalogue if you could work out where it was...! (https://ninjatune.net/us/article/2010/feb/11/bonobo-black-sands-photos-map-competition) Which gives this map
 ShepHeard wrote:

Could be, but it's a while since I was last up there. He is from the UK, very much in the the Ninja Tune scene. I've a feeling he's from Manc or Leeds, but I could be wrong - he could easily be from Brighton!

It could be Wastwater too, no? 
 
I figured out where it was taken from - the Castlerigg campsite above Derwent Water, a little South of Keswick. I know for sure because I stayed there a month ago, and that radio mast is very distinctive. There's Walla Crag on the left, Derwent Water in the centre, and the Catbells ridge in the distance.

Quite cool...
I like dis song too
COW BELLS MAESTRO ???
 fredriley wrote:
I thought that the cover had a Scottish feel, with the loch and hills, and the Scots Pine in the foreground, then I had a scoot at the official Bonobo site and the background photo on that looks very much like Derwent Water in the UK Lake District, looking from high above the Eastern shore towards Catbells. Does it ring bells with any other UK folk?
 
Could be, but it's a while since I was last up there. He is from the UK, very much in the the Ninja Tune scene. I've a feeling he's from Manc or Leeds, but I could be wrong - he could easily be from Brighton!

It could be Wastwater too, no? 
I thought that the cover had a Scottish feel, with the loch and hills, and the Scots Pine in the foreground, then I had a scoot at the official Bonobo site and the background photo on that looks very much like Derwent Water in the UK Lake District, looking from high above the Eastern shore towards Catbells. Does it ring bells with any other UK folk?

Edit: having just come back from a short break in the NE Lakes, I'm pretty damn sure that this cover photo was taken from the Castlerigg Farm campsite above Keswick, or the public path that goes through it, looking SW with Walla Crag on the left, Derwent Water in the middle, and the Catbells ridge on the right. The radio mast by the site is very distinctive indeed. (Here's a higher-res version of the photo). I like yer man Bonobo's taste in landscapes {#Smile}


I agree :-)
This catches me every time, it's a song that grows on me with each listen. Thanks, RP!
Yeah, the percussion is definitely rockin' on this track.  I've liked Bonobo for a while and this album is really growing on me.  Not that it's taken much effort!
 JH_Junior wrote:


Dmitri from Paris ?   Very good...  see : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWdr-ohVmOc   (Une Very Stylish Fille)
 
I uploaded "Une Very Stylish Fille" to the LRC but it was promptly rejected.  This is a cool tune too.  This may seem like a crazy observation, but the horn/woodwind arrangements remind me of some of Frank Zappa's work.

Bonobo surely does do it face to face.
Fantastic!

Onother good examnple of the great diversity Bonobo has to offer and the creativity of this group of musicians!

That drumming is sooooooo wonderful!!{#Drummer}
beautiful

 gabrielle7nt wrote:
Not bad for ambient stuff. Sort of reminds me of Dmitri of Paris.
 

Dmitri from Paris ?   Very good...  see : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWdr-ohVmOc   (Une Very Stylish Fille)
Not bad for ambient stuff. Sort of reminds me of Dmitri of Paris.
Pick a room with better people.

 
_Bruce_ wrote:
This was so bad that I was forced to turn off RP by everyone in the room.
 


The percussion on this creates a world of it's own.
I love it. 
It's not really a group, it's just the one guy (Simon Green).  Not unlike Dangermouse or RJD2.

The tour musicians aren't band members as such.

I could be mistaken tho.