Manafonistas

on life, music etc beyond mainstream

2018 8 Mai

The talented Mr. Hopkins

von: Dirk Haberkorn Filed under: Blog | TB | 5 Comments

 

Oh, man, I think this record would be too much, too enigmatic for that strange, booom-booom driven neighbor of Brian W. „Singularity“ starts with danger & upheaval – and ends with the most beautifully captured nirvana of apparently acoustic piano notes. Beware of the software, as they say. It‘s avantgarde mixed with dancefloor, angelic drones – and sweat without tears. Dig it, please! Jon Hopkins claims that his 2013 album “Immunity” was an MDMA trip, while this new one evokes the rollercoaster of an out-and-out psychedelic experience. Hardly surprising then that this isn’t a party album, and even less background music. While there are moments of irresistible sweetness and stillness, there are also excursions way out of the comfort zone – indeed much as might happen with acid or the more natural mind-blast of mushrooms. A five star album, I dare to say!

 

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5 Comments

  1. Michael Engelbrecht:

    Welcome back, Ingo J. Biermann was singing the praise of this album few days ago, so now another reason to go for a deep listen! Is it soooo good?

  2. Brian Whistler:

    Will check it out

  3. Jan Reetze:

    Yes, it’s a good one, but acid? Mushrooms?

    Hamset nich ‘n bissken kleener, as they would say in the Berghain waiting line?

  4. Michael Engelbrecht:

    That‘s exactly what I thought … :)

    Adding this to my favourite list of 2018 so far: 04. Jon Hopkins – Singularity *****

    (everybody’s talking about psychedelia here, but it’s certainly the work a sharp mind)

  5. Michael Engelbrecht:

    Or this, from Brian Howe‘s Pitchfork review:

    Hopkins recently told The New Yorker that Singularity capped a period of seeking in his life, a time when he devoted himself to “desert treks, controlled breathing, [and] freezing baths.” He bottled that intensity in grooves that heave themselves into being, discovering their forms moment by moment.

    The songs here are about 75 percent build and 25 percent release, which is gripping, faintly exhausting, and, if you’re ready to go there, transcendent. Hopkins seems to model his music on the infinite cycles of destruction and rebirth that power the universe – but we, too, are part of the scheme. Singularity is ultimately grounded in the personal, not the cosmic, which is what makes this head music so rich.


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