The smell of autumn, a pre-dinner stroll, a deceased guinea pig . . . the self-titled debut of BONK recasts life occurrences as musical conversations between two electric basses. The album’s ten tracks incorporate both structure and extemporaneity, composition and improvisation. Tandem weaving basslines create an innovative blend within the world of low end. The result is a novel discourse, marked by the harp-like bass guitar hocketing that distinguishes this ensemble.

BONK is San Francisco’s premier intergenerational electric bass duo. The group consists of bassist/educator/composer Bill Noertker, a longtime stalwart in the Bay Area jazz and avantgarde scenes, and up-and-comer DIY punk bassist Oliver Kogod. The duet was formally established in 2024 after a long period of mentorship between the two. This is their first release.