{"product_id":"ibibio-sound-machine-chopping-mountain","title":"Ibibio Sound Machine - Chopping Mountain","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIbibio Sound Machine have always made music where borders disappear. On \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChopping Mountain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Afrobeat, highlife, disco, post-punk, and electronics collide with the effortless energy of a band playing together in the room.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2026 on Merge Records\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChopping Mountain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is the London collective’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esixth full-length album\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and follows 2024’s darker, club-oriented \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePull the Rope\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. It also marks the return of founding member \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMax Grunhard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to the producer’s chair for the first time since 2019’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDoko Mien\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, bringing the focus back toward the chemistry between Grunhard, vocalist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEno Williams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the sprawling ensemble around them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat chemistry is immediately apparent. Horns, percussion, elastic basslines, synthesizers, guitars, and electronic rhythms constantly overlap without crowding one another. “Concept of Love” turns a deceptively simple question into luminous Afro-disco, while “Love” draws from highlife and “Return to Sender” introduces a tougher electronic pulse. The album’s rhythms invite movement, but beneath them lies a broader concern with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003elove, unity, resistance, and finding connection in an increasingly fractured world\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWilliams remains the gravitational center. Singing across English and Ibibio, she can move from commanding to playful to deeply reflective while the band shifts around her. The arrangements similarly resist settling into any single category. West African funk and disco sit alongside synth-driven electro, psychedelic textures, post-punk sharpness, and contemporary club production, continuing the cross-cultural conversation that has defined Ibibio Sound Machine from the beginning.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere’s also a looseness to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChopping Mountain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e that distinguishes it from its immediate predecessors. After the Hot Chip-produced \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElectricity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and Ross Orton-produced \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePull the Rope\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, returning production duties to Grunhard gives the record the feeling of music developing organically from the ensemble itself.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVibrant without becoming lightweight and politically conscious without sacrificing joy, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChopping Mountain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is Ibibio Sound Machine doing what they do best: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eturning disparate musical languages into one irresistible, communal pulse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ibibio Sound Machine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47877120589878,"sku":"MRG886","price":21.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0674\/2592\/7222\/files\/ibibio-chopping-mountain.jpg?v=1790362523","url":"https:\/\/greycatrecords.com\/products\/ibibio-sound-machine-chopping-mountain","provider":"Greycat Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}