Singularity (Jon Hopkins album)
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Singularity
| type = studio
| artist = Jon Hopkins
| cover = JonHopkinsSingularityAlbumCover.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|df=y|2018|5|4}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Electronic|IDM|microhouse|ambient}}
| length = {{Duration|m=62|s=10}}
| label = Domino
| producer = Jon Hopkins
| prev_title = Immunity
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title =Music for Psychedelic Therapy
| next_year =2021
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Singularity
| type = studio
| single1 = Emerald Rush
| single1date = 6 March 2018
| single2 = Everything Connected
| single2date = 25 April 2018
| single3 = Singularity
| single3date = 4 May 2018
| single4 = C O S M
| single4date = 7 September 2018
| single5 = Luminous Beings
| single5date = 1 March 2019
}}
}}
Singularity is the fifth studio album by English electronic musician and producer Jon Hopkins, released on 4 May 2018 through Domino Records.
It was announced on 6 March 2018, with the release of the first single, "Emerald Rush".[https://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=41239 Jon Hopkins details new album, Singularity, his first in five years] 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.{{Cite news|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/03/jon-hopkins-announces-new-album-singularity-shares-animated-emerald-rush-video-watch/|title=Jon Hopkins announces new album, Singularity, shares animated "Emerald Rush" video: Watch|date=6 March 2018|work=Consequence of Sound|access-date=28 March 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/jon-hopkins-announces-new-album-singularity-releases-enthralling-video-for-emerald-rush-watch|title=Jon Hopkins announces new album Singularity, releases enthralling video for 'Emerald Rush' – watch|date=7 March 2018|work=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|access-date=28 March 2018}} It was released to critical acclaim and was nominated at the 2019 Grammy Awards for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
|rev1=AllMusic
|rev2=The A.V. Club
|rev3=The Guardian
|rev3Score={{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/04/jon-hopkins-singularity-album-review-techno-domino|title=Jon Hopkins: Singularity review – well-crafted techno is oh so shallow|work=The Guardian|date=4 May 2018|accessdate=10 June 2018|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben}}
|rev4=The Irish Times
|rev4Score={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/jon-hopkins-singularity-review-beautiful-but-heartbreaking-1.3479292|title=Jon Hopkins: Singularity review – beautiful but heartbreaking|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=4 May 2018|accessdate=10 June 2018|last=Van Nguyen|first=Dean}}
|rev5=Mixmag
|rev5Score=9/10{{cite journal|title=Jon Hopkins: Singularity|journal=Mixmag|date=May 2018|page=117}}
|rev6=Mojo
|rev6Score={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=Another Green World|journal=Mojo|issue=295|date=June 2018|last=Male|first=Andrew|page=89}}
|rev7=NME
|rev8=Pitchfork
|rev8Score=8.3/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/jon-hopkins-singularity/|title=Jon Hopkins: Singularity|work=Pitchfork|date=10 May 2018|accessdate=14 May 2018|last=Howe|first=Brian}}
|rev9=Q
|rev9Score={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|title=Inner Space|journal=Q|issue=385|date=June 2018|last=Monroe|first=Jazz|page=104}}
|rev10=Uncut
|rev10Score=7/10{{cite journal|title=Jon Hopkins: Singularity|journal=Uncut|issue=253|date=June 2018|last=Dalton|first=Stephen|page=32}}
}}
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". It received critical acclaim from a few publications including NME, and The Skinny, 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." 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." 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." 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."{{cite web|last1=Carlick|first1=Stephen|title=Jon Hopkins: Singularity|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/jon_hopkins-singularity|website=Exclaim!|publisher=Exclaim! Media|accessdate=1 May 2018}}
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".
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Jon Hopkins
| total_length = 62:10
| title1 = Singularity
| length1 = 6:29
| title2 = Emerald Rush
| length2 = 5:36
| title3 = Neon Pattern Drum
| length3 = 6:07
| title4 = Everything Connected
| length4 = 10:30
| title5 = Feel First Life
| length5 = 5:33
| title6 = C O S M
| length6 = 7:08
| title7 = Echo Dissolve
| length7 = 3:21
| title8 = Luminous Beings
| length8 = 11:51
| title9 = Recovery
| length9 = 5:35
}}
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
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak |
---|
scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/charts/albums-chart|title=ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=14 May 2018|accessdate=12 May 2018}}
| 44 |
{{album chart|Austria|39|artist=Jon Hopkins|album=Singularity|rowheader=true|accessdate=17 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|Flanders|11|artist=Jon Hopkins|album=Singularity|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|Wallonia|48|artist=Jon Hopkins|album=Singularity|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|Netherlands|56|artist=Jon Hopkins|album=Singularity|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|Germany4|31|id=353669|artist=Jon Hopkins|album=Singularity|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|Ireland|21|M|url=http://www.irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Albums|title=Irish Albums Chart: 11 May 2018|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 May 2018}} |
scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI){{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:album/id:2681|title=Album – Classifica settimanale WK 19 (dal 2018-05-04 al 2018-05-10)|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=Italian|accessdate=12 May 2018}}
| 63 |
scope="row"| New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2018-05-11|title=NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=14 May 2018|access-date=11 May 2018}}
| 6 |
{{album chart|Scotland|6|date=20180511|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|Switzerland|21|artist=Jon Hopkins|album=Singularity|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|UK2|9|date=20180511|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|UKDance|1|date=20180511|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|UKIndependent|1|date=20180511|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 May 2018}} |
{{album chart|BillboardDanceElectronic|11|artist=Jon Hopkins|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 May 2018}} |
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/singularity/jon-hopkins|title=Singularity by Jon Hopkins Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=6 May 2018}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/jon-hopkins-singularity-review-2307680|title=Jon Hopkins – 'Singularity' Review|work=NME|date=4 May 2018|accessdate=18 December 2019|last=Bartleet|first=Larry}}
{{cite web|url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/jon-hopkins-singularity|title=Jon Hopkins – Singularity|work=The Skinny|date=1 May 2018|accessdate=6 May 2018|last=Brash|first=Tallah}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/jon-hopkins-dj-koze-and-more-albums-to-know-about-thi-1825744571|title=Jon Hopkins, Singularity|work=The A.V. Club|date=4 May 2018|access-date=6 May 2018|last=O'Neal|first=Sean}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/jon-hopkins-singularity|title=Jon Hopkins – Singularity|work=musicOMH|date=4 May 2018|accessdate=6 May 2018|last=Hogwood|first=Ben}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/jon-hopkins-singularity|title=Jon Hopkins: Singularity|work=XLR8R|date=30 April 2018|accessdate=6 May 2018|last=Murphy|first=Ben}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/singularity-mw0003163872|title=Singularity – Jon Hopkins|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=12 March 2020|last=Simpson|first=Paul}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/06/singularity-jon-hopkins-album-review-damien-morris|title=Jon Hopkins: Singularity review – not enough fuel for the feet|work=The Observer|date=6 May 2018|accessdate=6 May 2018|last=Morris|first=Damien}}
}}
{{Jon Hopkins}}
{{Authority control}}