Jon Hopkins - Music For Psychedelic Therapy (Album Review)
Monday, 22 November 2021
Written by Matty Pywell
Photo: Steve Gullick
Jon Hopkins’ ‘Music For Psychedelic Therapy’ is unlike anything he has produced before. Known for creating tracks that reach for beat-driven euphoria, here he has ditched blueprints that have brought him legions of fans and even a Grammy nod for best dance/electronic album for his 2018 album ‘Singularity’.
Here, you won't find a single beat anywhere. Instead, we have an album of oscillations and field recordings inspired by Hopkins’ time in an Ecuadorian cave. Moulded by the unique setting, ‘Music For Psychedelic Therapy’ aims to bring those surroundings to life.
The centrepiece of the album are the Tayos Caves, Ecuador sequences labelled from 1-3. They combine a range of gushing waterfalls, birdsong and some mind-bending reverberations as Hopkins seeks to lull us into a meditative state.
This is a work intended to be experienced in isolation, and yet this is perhaps its biggest problem. It never feels like Hopkins earns our attention.
Sure, the production quality is high, and the field recordings are pleasant, but that’s all they are. It never rises above background music—you may, in fact, find the urge to scroll on your phone becomes a bit too much.
Everything here sounds pretty, but it’s very hard to feel anything because there’s very little to attach yourself to or interpret. The closing track Sit Around The Fire possesses some of the most evocative sounds, the burning of embers and lush piano instrumentals, but it is ruined by the only vocals on the album and a series of lyrical misfires: “Between all polarities I am.” Its attempts to be deep only succeed in sounding like a guided meditation app.
Jon Hopkins Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon November 22 2021 - HOVE The Old Market
Tue November 23 2021 - LONDON Royal Albert Hall
Sat July 16 2022 - GALWAY Festival Big Top
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
.jpg)
