Singularity (Jon Hopkins album)
Singularity is the fifth studio album by English electronic musician and producer Jon Hopkins, released on 4 May 2018 through Domino Records.
Singularity | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 4 May 2018 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 62:10 | |||
Label | Domino | |||
Producer | Jon Hopkins | |||
Jon Hopkins chronology | ||||
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Singles from Singularity | ||||
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It was announced on 6 March 2018, with the release of the first single, "Emerald Rush".[1] The second single, "Everything Connected", was released on 25 April, while the third, "Singularity", was released on 4 May, along with the album.
The album follows Hopkins's companion previous album, Immunity.[2][3] It was released to critical acclaim and was nominated at the 2019 Grammy Awards for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.0/10[4] |
Metacritic | 84/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
The A.V. Club | A[7] |
The Guardian | [8] |
The Irish Times | [9] |
Mixmag | 9/10[10] |
Mojo | [11] |
NME | [12] |
Pitchfork | 8.3/10[13] |
Q | [14] |
Uncut | 7/10[15] |
Singularity received widespread acclaim from critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on 26 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[5] It received critical acclaim from a few publications including NME,[12] and The Skinny,[16] who each attributed it a perfect score.
musicOMH gave the album high praise, saying: "From the beginning this is music that sweeps the listener away, an aural massage that takes care of the hair standing on end at the top of the head to the pair of heels itching to start moving on the dance floor."[17] XLR8R compared the album to Hopkins' previous album Immunity, saying: "Hopkins' merging of emotional material with hypnotic, physical grooves appeared effortless. Singularity continues in the vein of Immunity, though its depth of feeling is greater, and rhythmic power more potent."[18] AllMusic was more positive of Singularity than Hopkins' previous album Immunity, stating: "...filled with frayed feedback, skillfully crafted beats, and gentle piano melodies, as well as the occasional breathy vocals. This time out, there seems to be an extra shot of adrenaline added, and the album seems to reflect a deeper spiritual quest, both inwards and outwards."[6] Stephen Carlick of Exclaim! praised the album saying, "It's an album that, in its best moments, finds one of electronic music's great minds operating in peak form."[19]
The Observer was critical of the album, saying: "Too often, though, you’re left wishing for the thuggish bass and head-severing hi-hats of less cerebral dance music. There’s not enough food for the brain or fuel for the feet here".[20]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Jon Hopkins.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Singularity" | 6:29 |
2. | "Emerald Rush" | 5:36 |
3. | "Neon Pattern Drum" | 6:07 |
4. | "Everything Connected" | 10:30 |
5. | "Feel First Life" | 5:33 |
6. | "C O S M" | 7:08 |
7. | "Echo Dissolve" | 3:21 |
8. | "Luminous Beings" | 11:51 |
9. | "Recovery" | 5:35 |
Total length: | 62:10 |
Personnel
- Jon Hopkins – music, record producer, engineering, mixing
- Additional Personnel
- Leo Abrahams – guitar (track 1), orchestra choir (track 5)
- Emma Smith – strings (track 1, 2, 4, 5, 8)
- Sasha Lewis – programming (track 1 to 4)
- London Voices – choir (track 5)
- Jon Thorne – double bass (track 4)
- Lisa Elle – vocals (track 2)
- Josephine Stephenson – vocals (track 5)
- Olivia Chaney – vocals (track 5)
- Oliver Griffiths – vocals (track 5)
- Ben Perry – chorus masters (track 5)
- Terry Edwards – chorus masters (track 5)
- Austin Tufts – drum (track 8)
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] | 44 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[22] | 39 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[23] | 11 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[24] | 48 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[25] | 56 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] | 31 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[27] | 21 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[28] | 63 |
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[29] | 6 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[30] | 6 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] | 21 |
UK Albums (OCC)[32] | 9 |
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[33] | 1 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[34] | 1 |
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[35] | 11 |
References
- Jon Hopkins details new album, Singularity, his first in five years
- "Jon Hopkins announces new album, Singularity, shares animated "Emerald Rush" video: Watch". Consequence of Sound. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- "Jon Hopkins announces new album Singularity, releases enthralling video for 'Emerald Rush' – watch". Jon Hopkins announces new album Singularity, releases enthralling video for 'Emerald Rush' – watch | Editorial | Bandwagon – Live music, bands and concert guide for Singapore, Manila and Jakarta. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- "Singularity by Jon Hopkins reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- "Singularity by Jon Hopkins Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- Simpson, Paul. "Singularity – Jon Hopkins". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- O'Neal, Sean (4 May 2018). "Jon Hopkins, Singularity". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (4 May 2018). "Jon Hopkins: Singularity review – well-crafted techno is oh so shallow". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- Van Nguyen, Dean (4 May 2018). "Jon Hopkins: Singularity review – beautiful but heartbreaking". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- "Jon Hopkins: Singularity". Mixmag: 117. May 2018.
- Male, Andrew (June 2018). "Another Green World". Mojo (295): 89.
- Bartleet, Larry (4 May 2018). "Jon Hopkins – 'Singularity' Review". NME. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- Howe, Brian (10 May 2018). "Jon Hopkins: Singularity". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- Monroe, Jazz (June 2018). "Inner Space". Q (385): 104.
- Dalton, Stephen (June 2018). "Jon Hopkins: Singularity". Uncut (253): 32.
- Brash, Tallah (1 May 2018). "Jon Hopkins – Singularity". The Skinny. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- Hogwood, Ben (4 May 2018). "Jon Hopkins – Singularity". musicOMH. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- Murphy, Ben (30 April 2018). "Jon Hopkins: Singularity". XLR8R. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- Carlick, Stephen. "Jon Hopkins: Singularity". Exclaim!. Exclaim! Media. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- Morris, Damien (6 May 2018). "Jon Hopkins: Singularity review – not enough fuel for the feet". The Observer. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- "Austriancharts.at – Jon Hopkins – Singularity" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- "Ultratop.be – Jon Hopkins – Singularity" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- "Ultratop.be – Jon Hopkins – Singularity" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Jon Hopkins – Singularity" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Jon Hopkins – Singularity" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- "Irish Albums Chart: 11 May 2018". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 19 (dal 2018-05-04 al 2018-05-10)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- "Swisscharts.com – Jon Hopkins – Singularity". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- "Jon Hopkins Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2018.