Ibibio Sound Machine: Follow the Voice Into the Electronics
Ibibio Sound Machine have given us a very practical instruction: Pull the Rope. We can work with that.
Released by Merge in May 2024, the album follows Electricity and places the band led by Eno Williams and Max Grunhard in a more club-focused setting. The label describes a shift toward an all-night dance atmosphere while keeping the connection and joy at the center of the group.
For an introduction, follow the title track with “Got to Be Who U Are” and “Dance in the Rain.” Those selections give a newcomer a short route through the ten-song record before committing to the full sequence.
The interesting thing to follow is the relationship between voice, players and electronic production. When several kinds of musical activity share a track, listen for what each contributes: an instruction, an answer, a rhythmic pattern, a moment when the arrangement leaves somebody more room.
You can also begin with the official “Pull the Rope” video, linked from the band’s website. A performance-minded introduction is useful when discovering a group whose identity includes the people making the parts.
Keep the album handy for the point in the weekend when sitting still starts to feel like an unnecessary restriction. There are ten tracks here; the furniture will have to negotiate its own position.
Explore the official release and listening links.
Official release artwork. Source: Merge Records. Artwork source.