Bricolage

Amon Tobin

1997

Cover of Bricolage
Top 100

Why This Album Matters

Amon Tobin presented Bricolage in 1997, his second work and the first released under his own name, also marking his debut with the Ninja Tune label. This album represented a significant shift in his sound compared to his previous project, Adventures in Foam. Bricolage stands out for its bold fusion, incorporating a dense mixture of jazz melodies with complex jungle rhythms. Specialist critics praised the way Tobin managed to unite the richness of classical jazz with modern technology, using samplers and electronic keyboards to create an innovative and engaging sound that blurred the boundaries between genres.

Context

Bricolage marked a turning point in Amon Tobin's career, being his first release under his real name and also his first partnership with the renowned Ninja Tune label. The album represented an evolution in his style, moving away from the approach of his previous work, Adventures in Foam, released under the pseudonym Cujo.

Recording

The production of the album Bricolage was notable for its use of modern technology. Amon Tobin employed samplers and electronic keyboards to transform and integrate elements of traditional jazz, creating a unique fusion with jungle rhythms.

Songs

One of the album's most notable tracks is "Easy Muffin", which gained widespread recognition for its use in various media. The song appeared in Toonami adverts for Gundam SEED, in several episodes of IGPX and the TV series Top Gear, in the film Divine Intervention (2002), and in an episode of the first season of Almost Human. Furthermore, it was the theme tune for a French radio programme, "Interception", on France Inter, and featured in Lincoln Motor Company television commercials from 2015 onwards. However, "Easy Muffin" has faced availability issues. In 2017, Amon Tobin confirmed that some of his best-known tracks, including this one, had been removed from streaming platforms and had their track listings altered on conventional digital platforms, possibly due to sample clearance issues.

Legacy

Bricolage was widely acclaimed by critics, receiving a perfect 10/10 score from Ryan Schreiber of Pitchfork, who highlighted Amon Tobin's genius in revitalising old jazz with contemporary technological resources. Sean Cooper, from AllMusic, considered the album consistently engaging and pioneering in blurring the distinctions between jungle and jazz. The album's impact was also recognised in 2015, when Fact ranked it 23rd in its list of the "50 Best Trip-Hop Albums of All Time". The publication described it as an intermediate landmark between IDM and the more introspective soundscapes of various trip-hop artists, consolidating its importance in the electronic music scene.

Rankings

Tracks

Credits

Written-By, Producer

Amon Tobin

Artwork

Alexander Liberman

Design, Photography By

Openmind

Liner Notes

Claude Lévi-Strauss

Analyses

Discogs

Bricolage – Discogs

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