Stephen Wilkinson’s one-man project Bibio has been quietly making waves with his electro-acoustic guitar musings over the last few years, but was in danger of being labeled what Pitchfork called a “pleasant one-trick pony.”

Just five months after his last release, however, Bibio dropped some wisdom with Ambivalence Avenue. While staying true to his eerily catchy vinyl sound, the music has expanded to include King Crimson-esque ballads and a strong hip-hop sensibility, most notably in “Fire Ant” and “S’Vive.” The beats compensate for the sometimes-drawling instrumentals and introduce offbeat kicks and snares reminiscent of MF Doom. It mixes surprisingly well with his more traditional, folksy sound, although the beats sometimes draw on in the same vein of Bibio’s more whiny tunes. “Sugarette” and “Abrasion,” if nothing else, make you want him to get on with it.

Overall it’s a solid album, highlighted by “Lovers’ Carvings,” silky progressions, and quavering beat drops that are beginning to define Bibio’s music career. What makes it worth a listen, however, is the rhythmic and harmonic variance that is embraced rather than tentatively tested. At the very least, you’ll find a couple gems tucked between the static.