Hyperion (Gesaffelstein album)

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Hyperion
Studio album by
Gesaffelstein
Released8 March 2019 (2019-03-08)
Length40:16
LabelColumbia
ProducerGesaffelstein
Gesaffelstein chronology
Aleph
(2013) 		Hyperion
(2019) 		Novo Sonic System
(2019)
Singles from Hyperion
  1. "Reset"
    Released: 29 November 2018
  2. "Lost in the Fire"
    Released: 11 January 2019
  3. "Blast Off"
    Released: 1 March 2019

Hyperion is the second studio album by French DJ Gesaffelstein, released on 8 March 2019.[1] The album includes the singles "Reset",[2] "Lost in the Fire" with the Weeknd,[3] and "Blast Off" with Pharrell Williams.

Background[edit]

Gesaffelstein signed to Columbia Records in October 2018, and the following month, it was announced in a short press release that he would release new music "soon".[2]

Promotion[edit]

Gesaffelstein promoted the album with "mysterious" billboards and social media posts throughout November, with the album's cover art and title being shared on a billboard in Miami in December 2018.[2] The website Dancing Astronaut stated that it was not clear from the billboard whether the entire billboard itself or the included picture of a "shattering black pane" was the cover art.[4] The album's release was preceded by the release of three singles, "Reset", "Lost in the Fire", and "Blast Off". The first being released on 29 November 2018, the second being released on 11 January 2019, and the third being released on 1 March 2019.[5][6][7]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic48/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Highsnobiety3/5[9]
Knoxville News Sentinel[10]
NME[11]
Pitchfork5.0/10[12]
Release Magazine[13]
Resident Advisor2.9/5[14]
Spectrum Culture[15]
Sputnikmusic3/5[16]
The Sydney Morning Herald[17]
Under the Radar4.5/10[18]

Upon release, Hyperion received mixed reviews. In a positive review, Kat Bein from Billboard stated Hyperion as being good, complimenting the album cohesion and experimental tracklist.[19]

The album's mixed reviews criticized the lack of definition in the artist's style and sound. Pitchfork's Larry Fitzmaurice called Lévy's production a "budget-level attempt to replicate ... other artists", ultimately calling Lévy an artist who has not defined himself, and stating, "that while he has consistency on his side, true artistic evolution remains out of Lévy's reach."[12] NME's Luke Morgan Britton dismissed the LP as "uninspired and lacking in substance", mainly due to the record's lack of grip on a mood or sound.[11] Even a supporter, Release Magazine journalist Peter Marchione, found the record's four "direct" vocal songs out of place with the "mature" instrumentals.[13]

Critics were also generally less positive towards the tracks with featured artists. Britton argued they contributed to the "directionless feeling" and "largely see Lévy failing to truly engage with what his guests can bring to the table", made worse by the producer's own character being nonexistent.[11] Marchione considered the instrumentals "well produced and at times more refined" than the vocal songs.[13]

Track listing[edit]

Track listing adapted from Pitchfork.[20]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hyperion"Mike LévyGesaffelstein2:53
2."Reset"Lévy[21]Gesaffelstein[21]3:25
3."Lost in the Fire" (with the Weeknd)
3:22
4."Ever Now"Lévy
  • Gesaffelstein
  • Donmoyer[a]
1:38
5."Blast Off" (with Pharrell Williams)
Gesaffelstein[23]3:55
6."So Bad" (featuring Haim)
Gesaffelstein3:36
7."Forever" (featuring The Hacker and Electric Youth)
4:31
8."Vortex"LévyGesaffelstein2:37
9."Memora"LévyGesaffelstein3:37
10."Humanity Gone"
Gesaffelstein10:42
Total length:40:16

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a miscellaneous production credit

Personnel[edit]

Musicians

Technical

  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Mike Lévy – mixing (1, 2, 4–10)
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing (3)
  • Michel Amato – mixing (7)
  • Nate Donmoyer – engineering (1–), editing (3, 6–8)
  • Derrick Stockwell – engineering (2, 4, 5), engineering assistance (1, 7–9)
  • Chris Kasych – engineering (3, 5–10), engineering assistance (1, 2, 4)
  • Shin Kamiyama – engineering (3)
  • Chenao Wang – engineering assistance (3, 7)
  • Collin Kadlec – engineering assistance (3, 7)
  • John Hanes – engineering assistance (3)
  • Mike Larson – engineering assistance (5)

Charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance for Hyperion
Chart (2019) Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP)[24] 92
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[25] 13
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[26] 10

References[edit]

  1. ^ Schatz, Lake (19 February 2019). "Gesaffelstein sets release date, tracklist for new album Hyperion". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Lee, Valerie (7 December 2018). "Gesaffelstein confirms new album 'Hyperion'". Mixmag. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  3. ^ Bein, Kat (7 January 2019). "Gesaffelstein & The Weeknd Tease 'Lost In Fire': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Will (7 December 2018). "BREAKING: Gesaffelstein finally confirms new album, 'Hyperion'". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Gesaffelstein Shares Music Video for New Song "Reset"". Pitchfork. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Gesaffelstein and The Weeknd Tease 'Lost In Fire' Collaboration: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Gesaffelstein & Pharrell Williams Go Pop In The Shadows On 'Blast Off': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Reviews for Hyperion by Gesaffelstein". Metacritic. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  9. ^ Cook, Cameron (15 March 2019). "Gesaffelstein Struggles to Break Through on the Uneven but Sexy 'Hyperion'". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  10. ^ Campbell, Chuck (9 March 2019). "Anderson .Paak's 'Ventura' offers ample soul, if not heart". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  11. ^ a b c Luke Morgan Britton (14 March 2019). "Gesaffelstein – 'Hyperion' review". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  12. ^ a b Larry Fitzmaurice (12 March 2019). "Gesaffelstein – Hyperion". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  13. ^ a b c Marchione, Peter (19 March 2019). "Gesaffelstein – Hyperion". Release Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  14. ^ Steph Lee (21 March 2019). "RA Reviews: Gesaffelstein - Hyperion". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  15. ^ Jacobs, Mark (17 March 2019). "Gesaffelstein: Hyperion". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  16. ^ Bowman, Kirk (9 March 2019). "Review: Gesaffelstein – Hyperion". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Music reviews: Jenny Lewis, Amanda Palmer, David Bridie, Gesaffelstein and more". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  18. ^ Michael, Jordan J. (8 April 2019). "Gesaffelstein: Hyperion (Columbia) Review - Under the Radar - Music Magazine". Under the Radar. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Gesaffelstein's 'Hyperion' Is a Moody Mix Of Pop, Goth & Cinematic Scores: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  20. ^ Yoo, Noah (19 February 2019). "Gesaffelstein Enlists Haim, Pharrell, More for New Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Reset / Gesaffelstein". Tidal. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  22. ^ a b "Lost in the Fire / Gesaffelstein, The Weeknd TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Blast Off / Gesaffelstein, Pharrell Williams TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Lescharts.com – Gesaffelstein – Hyperion". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  26. ^ "Gesaffelstein Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
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