Opalescent (album)

Opalescent is the debut studio album by English musician and producer Jon Hopkins, released on June 30, 2001 under Just Music and absolute zero[2] His only assistance in the album came from his friend and regular collaborator Leo Abrahams, who plays Opalescent's guitars.

Opalescent
Studio album by Jon Hopkins
Released	July 30, 2001
Recorded	1999–2001[1]
Genre	Electronic ambient
Length	55:36
Label	Just Music absolute zero
Producer	Jon Hopkins
Jon Hopkins chronology
Opalescent (2001) Contact Note (2004)

Background

In 1999 Hopkins signed with boutique London label Just Music as a solo artist, and began recording his debut album Opalescent. At the time he was also working part-time as a studio session musician.[3][4] Opalescent attracted positive press attention upon its release, and several tracks were licensed to Sex and the City.[5]

Hopkins spoke on how he felt about the album: "It’s always going to have a special place for me. It’s where it all began, and it was very personal, very heartfelt. There were tracks on it I will always be proud of. Now, I obviously don’t like everything on it, but you’re always critical of what you’ve done. Otherwise you wouldn’t move forward. I’ve tried to do every album in a different style, which is why I tend to leave a fair bit of time between each one. But yeah, it’s got a very specific sound all of its own, which is a valid step in my whole musical journey."[6]

Reissue

Opalescent was remastered and reissued for its 15-year anniversary on August 26, 2016.[7] It also was issued on vinyl for the first time that year.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Pitchfork	5.6/10[9]
Clash	7/10[10]
DJ Magazine

Upon its release, Opalescent was met with generally mixed reviews from music critics, but in many years after Hopkins' worldwide successful as musician and record producer, the album was critically acclaimed. Kevin Lozano from Pitchfork gave Opalescent a 5.6/10 and wrote: "This reissue of the electronic composer’s first album, made in his early 20s, rings thin and hollow compared to the dark genius of his later work."[9] Angus McKeon from Clash gave Opalescent a 7/10 and wrote: "When compared to some of his later projects, you can recognise signs of inexperience in Hopkins production. Yet ‘Opalescent’ was able to not only establish Hopkins as a ground breaking solo artist in his own right but also help lay the foundations for future champions of the ambient stylings."[10] The Guardian reviewed it as "a beautifully realized debut. Using synth oozes, phased and echoed guitars and pianos and chilled beats, his wonderful tunes drift from calm to eerie power like a restless sea. It will delight any lovers of beautiful music." DJ Magazine gave it 4/5 stars, and stated "Piano, guitar strings and slow beats blend like the clouds at sunset (or an opiate smoothy) filtering in and out like elegantly wasted beauty. Darker drums add a further depth."[11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jon Hopkins.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Elegiac"	6:24
2.	"Private Universe"	5:40
3.	"Halcyon"	5:01
4.	"Opalescent"	2:11
5.	"Lost In Thought"	6:16
6.	"Fading Glow"	6:58
7.	"Apparition"	2:02
8.	"Inner Peace"	4:53
9.	"Cerulean"	3:58
10.	"Grace"	4:17
11.	"Cold Out There"	3:54
12.	"Afterlife"	4:00
Total length:		55:36

Notes

• Additional guitar by Leo Abrahams.

References

1. "Jon Hopkins on Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
2. "Opalescent by Jon Hopkins on Apple Music". apple.com. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
3. Hollo, Peter (31 May 2009). "Jon Hopkins interview by Peter Hollo". Cyclic Defrost. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
4. Lymangrover, Jason (2009). "Jon Hopkins". Billboard. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
5. Lavin, Polly. "Meet the audio sculptor Jon Hopkins". Ibiza Voice. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
6. "Dark Blue-Grey With Neon Pink Flashes: An Interview With Jon Hopkins". popmatters.com. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
7. "Jon Hopkins' Opalescent Reissued". xlr8r.com. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
8. "Jon Hopkins Reissuing Debut Album Opalescent - Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
9. Lozano, Kevin (August 31, 2016). "Jon Hopkins - Opalescent". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
10. McKeon, Angus (September 2, 2016). "Jon Hopkins - Opalescent- "Showing many small points of shifting colour against a dark background..."". Clash. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
11. "Opalescent reviews". Just Music. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.