British electronica artist Jon Hopkins' discreetly understated third album, Insides, four years ago deservedly won followers in cinema, downbeat, triptronica and chill-out rock. It was less an album than something which just "was".
Consequently Hopkins is now on film scores, alongside Brian Eno in the credible ambient-cum-atmospheric world, favoured at British arts festivals, probably a candidate for a Late Night Tales compilation and ... these days he just "is". But this album also just "is".
And it isn't much ... unless you hear it as another soundtrack calling-card, because the slightly disconcerting Breathe This Air and Abandon Window would fit when astronauts go about their lonely business as our blue, cloud-covered orb is magically outside the spacecraft window. Lovely, evocative, just right ... and we've been here before.
Elsewhere, sonic clicks, glitches, electronic washes and simulated spacesuit breathing are all very well. But where Eno once imaginatively created music for films which didn't exist, Hopkins - now Eno's protege - gives the impression he's already seen the footage he hears. So it's deja vu. One overseas writer called this danceable. No disrespect, but so is the sound of a quiet photocopier. Pass.
Stars: 2/5
Verdict: Quiet is as quiet does, but ...
Click here to buy Immunity by Jon Hopkins.
