Mind Bokeh Warp***

It took until 2009's Ambivalance Avenuealbum for many folks to cop the strength of Stephen Wilkinson's bespoke handiwork as he toiled away in the pastoral electronica field. The fifth album Mind Bokehsees Wilkinson changing his gameplan a little by putting a more direct, confident, sharper shape on proceedings. The producer's fondness for folky, soft-toned soundscapes is still evident throughout (see the bleepy edges to Excusesfor a start), but Wilkinson has eradicated a lot of the haze which used to be the norm which produced some surprising turns. There are now, for instance, throbbing bangers like Take Off Your Shirt(a tune which sounds like it's on loan from Phoenix) for every funky Nightmares On Wax-like sweeping groove like K Is For Kelsonor hushed, folky nugget like More Excusesand Wake Up. An album to keep Bibio's name at the top of the tree. See myspace.com/mrbibio

Download tracks: K Is For Kelson, Excuses