The first single from Bonobo’s forthcoming new album (as yet untitled and due for release early next year) is the haunting, beautiful “The Keeper”. Featuring the incomparable vocal talents of Andreya Triana, the video for the single is already a hit on YouTube, now the audio is being released in all its full-res magnificence.

Coming on like a cross between early Massive Attack and classic soul-jazz, “The Keeper” is the sound of an artist completely in control of his resources, an artist with the confidence to do a little brilliantly. He coaxes a fantastic, characterful performance from Triana and makes music which is both melancholy and effortlessly uplifting. Remixes come Redeyes, he offers the neatest d&b re-working of the original, and labelmates Grasscut, who strip things back to faintly sinister musicbox atmospherics.

Since “Days To Come” was released in 2006, Simon Green aka Bonobo has become the most listened to artist on Ninja Tune worldwide. He has moved from selling out the Luminaire to selling out Koko to selling out Kentish Town Forum and producing the live DVD to prove it. Triana, who has previously worked with Mr Scruff, Flying Lotus and Theo Parrish, found a soulmate in Green. She is now Ninja’s latest signing and her debut album has been produced by Bonobo. In between working on that project, Simon is putting the finishing touches to his own album. He has been to Barcelona to record horns, San Franscisco to get the right drums. Now he is adding the final touches in his studio in Hackney. The anticipation will build from here.

Bonobo – The Keeper (featuring Andreya Triana) from Sy Turnbull on Vimeo.

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