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Aug 13, 2009 Web Exclusive By Jim Scott

An album for our Prozac-ed, Xanax-ed times, Bibio’s Ambivalence Avenue, as the title suggests, doesn’t reach any emotional highs or lows. It fits squarely in the middle, and seems to be just fine there.

Bibio mixes heavily hip-hop accented electronics with airy, old AM grooves and found sounds. And yet some songs, like the beautiful “The Palm of Your Wave,” sidle up to the Fleet Foxes of the world, while “Jealous of Roses” sounds like a Shuggie Otis outtake. At times, some songs, like the lovely “Lovers’ Carvings,” seem like they would be welcome on a soundtrack to a film or television show, but upon further listening, they’re not evocative enough of anything to provide much commentary; it’s difficult to imagine what kind of scene these songs would illustrate.

The results are all too smooth. There’s no teeth. Nothing about Ambivalence Avenue sinks in, nothing refuses to let go. It’s a very pleasant ride, a lilting daydream, and for some it may seem like a welcome respite, but for most it would seem to be too level. The emotional release of music is one of its great pleasures, and while the skill Bibio exhibits in putting together Ambivalence Avenue is laudable, going without any emotional connection makes it all seem like a hollow exercise. (www.myspace.com/mrbibio)

Author rating: 4/10