Oneohtrix Point Never: Chaos Meets Accessibility

The tenth studio album from electronic artist Daniel Lopatin, known as Oneohtrix Point Never, marks a significant shift towards collaboration and accessibility. Titled 'Age Of,' the record paradoxically balances approachability with Lopatin's characteristic sonic unpredictability and moments of sudden disarray.

This latest project sees Lopatin engaging extensively with other artists, a departure from his previous solo-driven endeavors. He enlisted James Blake for co-production and mixing. Vocal contributions come from Anohni and Dominick Fernow, with Eli Keszler on drums and Kelsey Lu on keyboards. Notably, Lopatin himself takes the lead vocals on four songs, a feature not heard prominently since 2010.

Despite the inclusion of pop-adjacent artists and a focus on vocals, 'Age Of' presents a challenging listening experience. Its soundscapes feature elements that drift in and out of focus, blending retro-futuristic synthesizers with harsh noise. The album's unconventional song structures, like the abrupt ending of "Babylon," defy typical popular music expectations.

'Age Of' is also enveloped in esoteric lore, mirroring its predecessor 'Garden of Delete.' The album's promotional materials utilize a 16th-century French engraving-inspired alignment chart with four "ages": bondage, ecco, excess, and harvest. Lopatin has also humorously linked his live ensemble name, "Myriad," to "My Record = Internet Addiction Disorder," reflecting the album's engagement with the emotional toll of constant online engagement and the pursuit of novelty.