Bonobo aka Simon Green – now one of the biggest names in dance music – first emerged at the tail end of the 90s as one of downtempo’s brightest stars. Originally released at the turn of the millennium, Bonobo’s breakout debut album – ‘Animal Magic’ has become a timeless record and a cult favourite amongst fans.

Recorded on an Akai 4-track tape recorder, ‘Animal Magic’ holds a special place in the history of Brighton-based independent label Tru Thoughts as the first album artist on the roster, with Bonobo debuting on Tru Thoughts’ compilation ‘When Shapes Join Together’. Bonobo’s origins as a talented DJ and producer all started under the guidance of Tru Thoughts A&R Robert Luis and his label nights in Brighton, such as phonic:hoop, where Simon cut his teeth and began to play all-night DJ sets.

‘Animal Magic’ is the output of Simon Green’s time in the creative seaside town of Brighton and marked an important milestone in his musical maturity. The city acted as a vital influence, allowing him to develop his drum programming and production skills while DJing relentlessly around the fertile hub.

While based in Brighton with Tru Thoughts, alongside his iconic debut LP ‘Animal Magic,’ Bonobo released a handful of EPs and singles such as ‘Scuba’, ‘Terrapin’ and ‘One Offs, Remixes & B-Sides’, and DJ’d across Europe and North America with fellow Tru Thoughts and Ninja Tunes artists.

The release of ‘Animal Magic’ in 2000 announced Simon Green as a serious talent on the scene, bringing a true musician’s edge to electronica. Since then Bonobo has been picked up by Coldcut’s Ninja Tune, releasing six more albums, including the GRAMMY-nominated ‘Fragments’ in 2022, while evolving his DJ performance set up to a full orchestrated live band, touring the world globally and becoming a favourite mainstage performer at the world’s largest music festivals.

TRACKLIST :

A1. Intro 0:46

A2. Sleepy Seven 5:22

A3. Dinosaurs 4:01

A4. Kota 5:24

A5. Terrapin 4:39

B1. The Plug 5:18

B2. Shadowtricks 4:08

B3. Gypsy 3:38

B4. Sugar Rhyme 4:47

B5. Silver 6:33