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Civilisation
Electronic · 2021

Civilisation

Kero Kero Bonito

A high-concept fusion of vintage digital synthesis and existential art-pop. It explores the rise and fall of human society through shimmering, hardware-driven melodies.

September 10, 2021 · Polyvinyl Record Company

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Civilisation is a striking departure from Kero Kero Bonito's earlier bubblegum aesthetics, trading Casio-pop for a sophisticated, hardware-driven exploration of human history and the existential dread of the modern era. It sounds like a lost transmission from the early 90s Warp Records era, specifically the Artificial Intelligence series, filtered through a modern pop lens. The album balances the organic and the synthetic, using pentatonic scales and dusty, vintage hardware to create a sound that feels both ancient and futuristic. It is an album of deep contrasts: bright, danceable rhythms are paired with lyrics about psychological warfare, the cyclical nature of time, and the resurrection of the dead.

Moments Worth Listening For
the transition in The Princess and the Clock where the bright synth melody suddenly feels heavy with ancient sorrow
the moment Well Rested shifts from a steady house beat into a sprawling, philosophical spoken-word section about the end of the world
the polyrhythmic percussion breakdown in Battle Lines that mimics the tension of a tactical standoff
Reviews
AllMusic
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Civilisation sound next to the rest of Kero Kero Bonito's catalogue?

Late Night+4.0σ

Late Night saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

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