Jon Hopkins: Singularity (Domino) Review | Under the Radar Magazine Under the Radar | Music Blog for the Indie Music Magazine
Friday, June 2nd, 2023  

Jon Hopkins

Singularity

Domino

May 22, 2018 Web Exclusive Bookmark and Share


The ascent of Jon Hopkins to the upper echelons of the electronica pantheon continues unabashed and unabated. Clocking in at over an hour of gloriously intelligent and equal parts groove and orchestrated cinematic brilliance, this truly is a tour de force from Hopkins. The muscular opening title track draws in the listener to a welter of synth leads lifted atop squelching drum patterns that weave in and out of distortion, threatening chaos which, beautifully, never quite arrives. Just when it seems about to lose control, the track subsides. A masterly composition.

This is an album to invest time and focus into. After the heady beginning, “Emerald Rush” gives a momentary rest before settling into a wonderful groove. “Feel First Life” is a beautifully understated, orchestral, and choral piece, whilst the gentle “Echo Dissolve” outdoes the majority of the output from the modern classical movement in recent times with a tremulous piano lead given plentiful space to make its mark. The beauty of Hopkins is in what follows: a 12-minute odyssey entitled “Luminous Beings” which manages to sound unerringly like its title, a truly beautiful moment on an album of beautiful moments.

Closing track “Recovery” feels like an attempt from Hopkins to offer exactly that, as once again a gently played piano melody takes center stage and the album wistfully fades away. This it may do, but Singularity is an album that will remain in the memory long after the final note is played and will demand repeated listens. (www.jonhopkins.co.uk)

Author rating: 8/10

Rate this album
Average reader rating: 1,286/10



Comments

Submit your comment

Name Required

Email Required, will not be published

URL

Remember my personal information
Notify me of follow-up comments?

Please enter the word you see in the image below:

There are no comments for this entry yet.