7/10

After first introducing us to their broad and unique sound with their self-titled debut album back in 2010, London-based outfit Bo Ningen found it hard to cement themselves in their initial years. While clearly gathering a strong and devout fanbase with their captivating sound, they always found themselves skirting the peripheries of the scene rather than fully penetrating at any point, which led the group to take a well deserved break after the release of their 2014 LP 'III'. But after six years away, they are back with their eagerly-awaited fourth full-length 'Sudden Fictions', a record that sees them push further than ever before.

Working alongside producer Drew Brown, best known for his work on ‘Amok’ by Atoms For Peace and Beck's latest release ‘Hyperspace’, not to mention a special appearance from Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie on the track 'Minimal', Bo Ningen seem keen to move their sonic style to the next phase of their musical evolution. While a lot of their earlier work seemed shrouded in dark and ethereal soundscapes, 'Sudden Fictions' presents the band in a far more minimal and stripped-back guise, regularly creating warm and sweeping offerings that channel a more rustic side to their sound.

While it still maintains plenty of that traditional Bo Ningen experimentation, 'Sudden Fictions' certainly feels like a band who are more assured in their aesthetic than ever. With a driven and succinct wave of ideas knocking off one another throughout this new collection, they are delivering some of their most engaging works to date.