Track Listing

1. Circle
2. Second Sense
3. Contact Note
4. Searchlight
5. Symmetry
6. 100
7. Glasstop
8. Sleepwalker
9. Reprise
10. Nightjar
11. Black And Red
12. Luna Moth

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46187 in Music
• Released on: 2004-08-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .12 pounds

Album Description
Londoner Jon Hopkins is barely in his twenties yet he's already been hailed as "a genius in the making". it might sound like hyperbole, but he was a royal college of music pianist by the age of 12 – and his collaborators this year have included music legends like Brian Eno, Imogen Heap and Jeff Beck. Jon's own cutting-edge blend of electronica and filmcore ambient was beautifully expressed on his 2001 debut Opalescent, which got incredible reviews worldwide. Tracks from the album have now appeared on many major compilations as well as, inevitably, the soundtrack of everything from Surf Girls to Suspect to the award-winning Sex and the City. Away from the movie front, Jon's amazing production and keyboard skills have also led to a clutch of hot remixes for Keane and Deepest Blue.

CD Description
This second album from the London-based electronica producer, released in 2004, was the precursor to his 2009 breakthrough Domino debut 'Insides'. While 'Contact Note' is smooth and listenable with a somewhat more generic chillout sound than its successor, it sees Hopkins begin to develop the classical influences, twisted IDM programming and phat beats thatwould more fully make themselves felt on the later album.

Customer Reviews

A true ambient masterpiece
Never before have I been compelled to write a review about anything for Amazon, but this album is so good that I felt I had to get my thoughts down! I am a fan of the chillout and ambient genre, but am very particular about what I like, and this really hits the spot, and can claim to be one of the best albums I have ever heard.

The music could perhaps best be described as "Deep Ambient/chilled Drum & Bass, with Classical piano and New Age influences, (and some very interesting sound effects), mixed into astonishingly complex, dream-like, layered soundscapes".

I would like to review the tracks individually, but since my academic background is not in music, I'm sure that these wouldn't really do the music justice. However, while all tracks are exceptional, ones that deserve special mention are "Nightjar" and "Black and red".

"Nightjar" is one of my favourite tracks. After an almost cinematic opening, it gradually builds up to a spine-chillingly beautiful piano melody that betrays Jon Hopkins' classical training (Any readers who have heard some of the works of contemporary Italian composer Ludovico Einoudi will have some idea of what I mean), all combined with soft beats and swirling sythesisers.

"Black and Red" is like nothing I have ever heard before, and could be called "experimental". Although it may not be to everyone's liking, it is another of my favourites. It starts with scratching sound effects, which decay over a deep bass rumble, building up to a minimalist, almost sinister, piano tune, with rumbling bass and distorted vocals. This merges into what can best be described as a "1950s flying saucer" sound effect, which suddenly cuts out into twinkling synthesisers followed by swirling atmospheres , gradually fading to an ethereal ambient piece.

While I have singled these two out for special mention, the rest of the album is still truly breathtaking as well. Unlike quite a lot of other modern electronic music, this album doesn't just repeat a simple tune over a fairly monotonous beat, but is more in the style of a classical piece. The music develops, builds and moves throughout the whole duration, with each layer not detracting anything from the overall sound, and working with all the others in perfect harmony.

So in summary, "Contact Note" combines unusual beats, heavenly vocals, soaring, swirling atmospheres, interesting sound effects and beautiful piano and acoustic guitar into an amazing musical journey. I for one, will be eagerly awiting more pieces from Jon Hopkins in the future.

A TRULY MAGNIFICENT RECORD!!!
Jon Hopkins remains the best kept secret in the chill out/ ambient genre - but with 'Contact Note' he is sure to achieve the success he so richly deserves.

After listening to his critically acclaimed and musically rich debut 'Opalescent', the wait began for the follow up. Though 'Opalescent' is definately worth checking out for the freshness of its sound and both impressive and evoking melodies - 'Contact Note' demonstrates a maturity and development in it's complexity which was, perhaps, the only ingredient missing in the talented Hopkins' impressive debut.

In 'Contact Note', the 'comfort' factor of 'Opalescent' is less evident and is replaced by a more challenging, yet ultimately far more rewarding record in which the progression in Hopkins' own ability is obvious. His inspired use of voices on 'Second Sense' is one such example and the quality of the production on the whole record is nothing less than remarkable. That much of the music is already being used for adverts and tv is unsuprising as each song holds its own unique sound, resonance and feel.

Bottom line: a truly brilliant record that deserves to rocket Hopkins to great success and acclaim - beautifully melodic, haunting and atmospheric - 'Contact Note' is a sublime achievement and brings with it that insatiable appetite for more. And this, with only two records to his name, is my only complaint!!!

Something of a disappointment
I purchased Jon Hopkins' previous album, "Opalescent", after reading comparisons with William Orbit's "Strange Cargo" project, and was extremely impressed. Complex melodies and rich textures, coupled with a very laid back groove, made for a superb album, especially from someone with no previous experience.

So, when "Contact Note" was announced, I preordered it without hesitation, and once it arrived it went straight into the CD player. I settled back to listen with some anticipation.

Several tracks in, I realised with dismay that the only real emotion I was feeling was boredom. The complex interweaving melodies of the first CD are largely gone from "Contact Note", leaving a much more textural affair - it's superbly produced, and the sounds are lush and evolving, but with little (if any) actual music binding things together there's not much to actually listen to.

Overall, it's pleasant enough, and I'm sure some will prefer the more minimalist vibe here, but anyone captured by the strong melodies of the first album may well be disappointed.