Magic Oneohtrix Point Never

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never was conceived as an album in early 2020 after Lopatin created eclectically varied mixtapes for the Safdie brothers' radio site Elara Radio; overall, he found that "on a therapeutic scale", he "always enjoyed the comfort of listening to the radio, and of listening to people have inane discussions on podcasts".{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=Daniel Lopatin On Returning to His Roots as Oneohtrix Point Never and Working with The Weeknd|url=https://www.gq.com/story/oneohtrix-point-never-magic-oneohtrix-point-never-album-the-weeknd-interview|access-date=2020-10-27|website=GQ}} Lopatin remarked to GQ that "there's so much of me on this—even the collaborations are appropriate [to when I started out]". In comparison, the album is themed around a psychedelic radio aesthetic and features four "Cross Talk" interludes, collages of "archival recordings of various American FM stations' "format flips", in which detourned DJ sign-offs collide with advertisements and self-help mantras", marking each periodic stage of the album.

Lopatin said of his intent with creating Magic Oneohtrix Point Never that:

I wanted to make a cohesive, punchy, 50-minute record that was very personal, but pulled from FM palettes that I was personally interested in [...] I think it works really well as a metaphor for how I've changed. The things that I try to understand about my own life and being an avid musical listener and how much that's influenced me as a musician is kind of apparent on this record. That metaphor of transformation is something that I came to by thinking about the radio.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-30|title=Magic Oneohtrix Point Never by Oneohtrix Point Never on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/magic-oneohtrix-point-never/1529625639|access-date=2020-10-30|website=Apple Music}}

The press release issued by Warp upon the album's announcement, especially concerning the album's concept, tone and use of textures, stated that it "loosely summons the broadcasting logic of radio dayparts, switching on in the morning and closing very late at night, while seamlessly latticed together with kaleidoscopic, twitchy transformations of sound between the dials to form a darkly humorous reflection on American music culture", concluding by referring to the album's style as "maximalist baroque-pop within atmospheric glitter".{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=Oneohtrix Point Never returns with radio-inspired album Magic Oneohtrix Point Never|url=https://thevinylfactory.com/news/oneohtrix-point-never-new-album-magic-oneohtrix-point-never/|access-date=2020-10-27|website=The Vinyl Factory}}

Lopatin began teasing the album on September 22, 2020, posting a video teaser stating the album title to social media platforms.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-21|title=Oneohtrix Point Never Teases New Music|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2098910/oneohtrix-point-never-teases-new-music/news/|access-date=2020-10-27|website=Stereogum}} He announced the album and its tracklist on September 25;{{Cite web|last=Bloom|first=Madison|title=Oneohtrix Point Never Announces New Album Magic Oneohtrix Point Never|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/oneohtrix-point-never-announces-new-album-magic-oneohtrix-point-never/|access-date=2020-10-27|website=Pitchfork|date=24 September 2020 |language=en-us}} the announcement also came with the release of the "Drive Time Suite", a single release consisting of the first three songs off of the album: "Cross Talk I", "Auto & Allo" and "Long Road Home".{{Cite web|date=2020-09-24|title=Oneohtrix Point Never announces new album, shares "Drive Time Suite" featuring Caroline Polachek: Stream|url=https://consequence.net/2020/09/magic-oneohtrix-point-never-album/|access-date=2020-10-27|website=Consequence of Sound|language=en-US}}

On October 14, Lopatin released the music video for "Long Road Home", co-directed by Charlie Fox and Emily Schubert. The stopmotion animated video pays homage to the 1982 short film Le Ravissement de Frank N. Stein, which was also adapted on Lopatin's 2013 Oneohtrix Point Never album, R Plus Seven.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-14|title=Oneohtrix Point Never shares video for new single, 'Long Road Home'|url=https://www.factmag.com/2020/10/14/oneohtrix-point-never-long-road-home/|access-date=2020-10-27|website=Fact|language=en-US}} The song would later be reworked and rereleased as the B-side to Caroline Polachek's 2022 single "Billions".{{cite web |url=https://beatsperminute.com/caroline-polachek-contemplates-the-overabundance-of-the-world-on-billions/ |title=CAROLINE POLACHEK CONTEMPLATES THE OVERABUNDANCE OF THE WORLD ON "BILLIONS" |website=Beats Per Minute |date=2022-02-09 |access-date=2022-12-09 |first=Jasper |last=Willems}}

On October 27, Lopatin released the "Midday Suite", another single release containing the next five tracks of the album, "Cross Talk II", "I Don't Love Me Anymore", "Bow Ecco", "The Whether Channel" and "No Nightmares".{{Cite web|title=Listen to Oneohtrix Point Never's new 'Midday Suite,' featuring The Weeknd|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/73825|access-date=2020-10-27|website=Resident Advisor}} Lopatin also shared the personnel for the album on the same day to social media.{{Cite tweet|user=0pn|number=1320770740824739840|title=Much love and admiration for everyone that made this record possible under crazy circumstances— this record means the world to me. MAGIC ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER comes out this Friday on @WarpRecords, credits below|access-date=2020-10-30|date=2020-10-27|language=en}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.4/10{{cite web|title=Magic Oneohtrix Point Never by Oneohtrix Point Never reviews|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12641/Oneohtrix-Point-Never-Magic-Oneohtrix-Point-Never.aspx|website=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|title=Magic Oneohtrix Point Never by Oneohtrix Point Never Reviews and Tracks|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/magic-oneohtrix-point-never/oneohtrix-point-never|website=Metacritic|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|first=Heather|last=Phares|title=Magic Oneohtrix Point Never - Oneohtrix Point Never|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/magic-oneohtrix-point-never-mw0003433988|website=AllMusic|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| rev2 = Beats Per Minute

| rev2score = 77%{{cite web|first=Rob|last=Hakimian|title=ALBUM REVIEW: ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER – MAGIC ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER|url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-oneohtrix-point-never-magic-oneohtrix-point-never/|website=Beats Per Minute|date=30 October 2020|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| rev3 = Clash

| rev3score = 8/10{{cite web|first=Wilf|last=Skinner|title=Oneohtrix Point Never - Magic Oneohtrix Point Never|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/oneohtrix-point-never-magic-oneohtrix-point-never|website=Clash|date=30 October 2020|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| rev4 = Consequence of Sound

| rev4score = B{{cite web|first=Jordan|last=Blum|title=The Adventurous Magic Oneohtrix Point Never Illuminates a True Talent: Review|url=https://consequence.net/2020/10/album-review-magic-oneohtrix-point-never/|website=Consequence of Sound|date=30 October 2020|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| rev5 = Exclaim!

| rev5score = 5/10{{cite web |last1=Piekarski |first1=Tom |title='Magic Oneohtrix Point Never' Is a Radio Playlist with No Internal Logic |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/magic_oneohtrix_point_never_album_review |website=Exclaim! |access-date=30 October 2020}}

| rev6 = FLOOD

| rev6score = 8/10{{cite web|first=Connor|last=Duffey|title=Oneohtrix Point Never, "Magic Oneohtrix Point Never"|url=https://floodmagazine.com/82407/oneohtrix-point-never-magic-oneohtrix-point-never/|website=FLOOD|date=30 October 2020|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| rev7 = Loud and Quiet

| rev7score = 8/10{{cite web|first=Woody|last=Delaney|title=Oneohtrix Point Never – Magic Oneohtrix Point Never|url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/oneohtrix-point-never-magic/|website=Loud and Quiet|date=30 October 2020|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| rev8 = musicOMH

| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Cotsell|title=Oneohtrix Point Never – Magic Oneohtrix Point Never|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/oneohtrix-point-never-magic-oneohtrix-point-never|website=musicOMH|date=30 October 2020|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| rev9 = Pitchfork

| rev9score = 7.7/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/oneohtrix-point-never-magic-oneohtrix-point-never/|title=Oneohtrix Point Never: Magic Oneohtrix Point Never Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Sherburne|first=Philip|date=October 30, 2020|access-date=October 30, 2020}}

| rev10 = Uncut

| rev10score = 8/10{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Dylan Wray|title=Uncut|url=https://archive.org/details/uncut-january-2021/page/30/mode/2up|access-date=19 November 2020}}

| noprose = yes

}}

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never was met with acclaim from music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, the album received a score of 81 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".{{Cite web|date=2020-10-30|title=Magic Oneohtrix Point Never|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/magic-oneohtrix-point-never/oneohtrix-point-never/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Metacritic}}

In the review for AllMusic, Heather Phares writes that, "Lopatin builds on radio's power to connect people through music even from a distance, and the way he combines all the facets of his music feels like going up and down the dial. The flowing synth instrumentals of his earliest work sit next to Garden of Delete and Age Of{{'}}s subverted pop songs, and they're all surrounded by collages of DJ chatter that hark back to Replica's nimble plunderphonics."{{Cite web|date=2020-10-30|title=Magic Oneohtrix Point Never|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/magic-oneohtrix-point-never-mw0003433988|access-date=2020-12-13|website=AllMusic}} Another positive review by Philip Sherburne states that "Whether sampled, synthesized, or acoustic, they are rich with implicit physicality, evocative of stretching and striking; processed voices are carved into curved, glistening shapes, uncanny as ice sculptures. It's a ridiculously opulent palette."{{Cite web|date=2020-10-30|title=Magic Oneohtrix Point Never|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/oneohtrix-point-never-magic-oneohtrix-point-never/|website=Pitchfork}}

All tracks written by Daniel Lopatin, except where noted; all tracks produced by Daniel Lopatin.

{{Track listing

| total_length = 47:07

| title1 = Cross Talk I

| length1 = 0:22

| title2 = Auto & Allo

| length2 = 3:21

| title3 = Long Road Home

| length3 = 3:32

| title4 = Cross Talk II

| length4 = 0:49

| title5 = I Don't Love Me Anymore

| length5 = 2:54

| title6 = Bow Ecco

| length6 = 2:11

| title7 = The Whether Channel

| length7 = 6:08

| title8 = No Nightmares

| writer8 = {{hlist|Daniel Lopatin|Abel Tesfaye}}

| length8 = 4:06

| title9 = Cross Talk III

| length9 = 0:12

| title10 = Tales from the Trash Stratum

| length10 = 3:28

| title11 = Answering Machine

| length11 = 0:58

| title12 = Imago

| length12 = 3:48

| title13 = Cross Talk IV / Radio Lonelys

| length13 = 1:08

| title14 = Lost But Never Alone

| length14 = 4:18

| title15 = Shifting

| length15 = 1:54

| title16 = Wave Idea

| length16 = 3:21

| title17 = Nothing's Special

| length17 = 4:37

}}

{{track listing

| total_length =

| headline = Japanese edition (bonus track){{cite web|url=https://www.beatink.com/products/detail.php?product_id=11445|title=BEATINK.COM Magic Oneohtrix Point Never|publisher=Beatink.com|access-date=November 21, 2020}}

| title18 = Ambien1

| length18 =

}}

{{track listing

| total_length =

| headline = Blu-ray Edition

| title18 = Lost But Never Alone

| note18 = A. G. Cook Remix

| title19 = Tales from the Trash Stratum

| note19 = featuring Elizabeth Fraser

| title20 = Nothing's Special

| note20 = featuring Rosalía

| title21 = Lost But Never Alone

| note21 = Forced Smile Edit

}}

Sample credits{{cite AV media notes |others=Oneohtrix Point Never |year=2020 |title=Magic Oneohtrix Point Never |type=liner notes |publisher=Warp |id=WARPCD318}}

• "Cross Talk II" contains a sample from "Wasn't the Summer Short", written by Ruth Newman and performed by Peter Nero.
• "Shifting" contains a sample from "Reconquering Our Kingdom" by Mournlord.

• Daniel Lopatin – vocals, production, engineering (all tracks), executive production
• Caroline Polachek – vocals ("Long Road Home"), additional vocals ("No Nightmares"), additional engineering ("No Nightmares"), additional vocal engineering ("Long Road Home")
• Nolanberollin – vocals ("The Whether Channel"), additional vocal engineering ("The Whether Channel")
• The Weeknd – vocals ("No Nightmares"), executive production
• Shin Kamiyama – additional engineering ("No Nightmares")
• Matt Cohn – additional engineering ("No Nightmares")
• Nate Boyce – additional guitar synth ("Lost But Never Alone")
• Arca – vocals ("Shifting")

• Matt Cohn – mixing (all tracks, except "Lost But Never Alone")
• Daniel Lopatin – mixing ("Lost But Never Alone")
• Ryan Schwabe – mastering (all tracks)

{{reflist}}

{{Oneohtrix Point Never}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Oneohtrix Point Never albums

Category:2020 albums

Category:Warp Records albums

Category:Psychedelic music albums

Category:Albums with cover art by Robert Beatty (artist)

Category:Pop albums by American artists

Category:Sound collage albums

Category:Works about radio