Bonobo has released a new album. Distance in Static arrives on September 11, 2026, marking another chapter in the long-running career of British producer and musician Simon Green.
Known professionally as Bonobo, Green has spent more than two decades developing an electronic sound that sits somewhere between downtempo, ambient music, jazz, soul and dance music. His records often combine programmed beats with live instrumentation, creating tracks that can feel equally at home through headphones or in a club.
Distance in Static continues that approach while bringing together a large group of guest musicians. The 14-track album includes collaborations with Arooj Aftab, Nicole Miglis, Joy Crookes, Nilüfer Yanya, Ichiko Aoba and other artists.
The record opens with “Dawn” before moving through tracks including “Cycles,” “Fire on the Water,” “Drift” and “Talk to Me.” The album continues to shift between instrumental passages and songs built around featured voices, giving the project plenty of movement without losing its overall atmosphere.
One of the album's notable collaborations is “Fire on the Water,” featuring Arooj Aftab. Aftab's distinctive voice brings another dimension to Bonobo's production, while the arrangement keeps the electronic elements spacious rather than overwhelming.
“Talk to Me” features Nicole Miglis, while Joy Crookes appears on “Always on Your Side.” Nilüfer Yanya contributes to “Youth's Fountain,” and Ichiko Aoba appears on “Equinoctial.” These collaborations help give the album a broader musical palette and prevent the record from settling into one predictable sound.
Bonobo's music has always been interested in the relationship between electronic production and organic performance. That balance remains important on Distance in Static. Instead of treating electronic music as something completely separate from traditional instrumentation, Green uses the two approaches together.
The result is an album that can move between gentle and rhythmic moments. Some tracks focus heavily on atmosphere, while others are driven by percussion and groove. That contrast has become one of the most recognizable features of Bonobo's work.
The album also shows how much room there still is for electronic music to evolve. Green does not need to rely on huge drops or aggressive production to make the music engaging. Much of the interest comes from the small details, layered sounds and changes in rhythm that reveal themselves after repeated listens.
Distance in Static follows Bonobo's established reputation while still leaving space for experimentation. The featured artists bring their own identities into the project, but the album remains connected by Green's production style.
For listeners who have followed Bonobo for years, the new record offers another collection of carefully constructed electronic music. For people discovering his work for the first time, it provides a useful introduction to the balance between rhythm, atmosphere and live instrumentation that has defined much of his catalog.
The album arrives as part of a particularly busy New Music Friday. September 11 also sees new releases from Bloc Party, Jhené Aiko, Sylvan Esso, Haruomi Hosono, This Is Lorelei, Ibibio Sound Machine and several other artists.
With Distance in Static, Bonobo adds another electronic record to that crowded release day. It is a project built around collaboration, texture and movement, while staying close to the sound that has made Simon Green one of the better-known names in modern electronic music.
Distance in Static is available now through major streaming platforms and digital music services, giving listeners a new Bonobo record to spend time with as the 2026 release calendar moves into its final months.
