Staff Reviews

Oneohtrix Point Never - R Plus Seven

Review by Alex Baker

Soothing and transportative, and is able to define itself a little bit more with each listen.»

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Oneohtrix Point Never release 'R Plus Seven' on Warp Records. The album contains many familiar sonic touchstones for listeners who have followed the acclaimed electronic music composer's development over the last half-decade, his Warp Records debut is a major departure from his previous work. Lopatin's experimental inclinations lurk behind the scenes - in the concepts and procedures he adopted to create the tracks - while the music itself comes as close as Lopatin has ever gotten to anything resembling traditional song structure. Which, for Lopatin, is only so close: The work is full of overlapping, abstract musical through-lines, puzzle-like pieces that, taken together, might allow you to glimpse an overarching tableau. 'R Plus Seven' is disruptive and hypnotic in equal measure, and the fun of it lies in trusting Lopatin as he guides you past - and often through - its succession of walls and mirrors. The Brooklyn-based artist has always deftly balanced the experimental with the accessible: He has released several albums under his Oneohtrix Point Never moniker on various independent labels - including the 2013 3-CD / 5 LP 'Rifts', a compilation of his early work - as well as amassing a large catalogue of mini-album tape releases. His most recent disc, 2011's 'Replica', was built around samples of television commercials. Oneohtrix Point Never has built live soundscapes at the Museum of Modern Art; collaborated with Montreal-based ambient electronic music composer Tim Hecker on the largely improvised 2012 Instrumental Tourist; and recast the title track from his 2010 disc Returnal as an elegant and emotive piece for piano, featuring the otherworldly voice of Antony Hegarty. Advertising powerhouse Saatchi and Saatchi tapped Lopatin for an installation event at the 2012 Cannes film fest and Sofia Coppola's longtime cohort Brian Reitzell invited him to create original music for Coppola's The Bling Ring.
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