7/10

Over the last decade, producer Jon Hopkins has grown to become one of the most inventive and captivating artists working today. His broad and eclectic direction that mirrors shimmering techno-inspired beats with warm and tranquil atmospheres has seen him deliver a flurry of critically-praised and renowned releases over the last few years, regularly testing the boundaries of his own direction to find something new and interesting with everything he makes. And now after a few years in isolation with the rest of us, he returns with his ethereal new album 'Music For Psychedelic Therapy', a sharp left turn in his collection to date.

Jon Hopkins' style has always consisted of two halves; a firm and driven beat, and a more ambient texture that gives breadth and levity to his work. But for 'Music For Psychedelic Therapy', he seems to have dropped the former and thrown himself headfirst into the sprawling and subtle eccentricities of his more atmospheric intentions. Inspired heavily from the stress of the last couple of years, and a collective need to calm ourselves, his newest record aims to create this shimmering and vivid array of lo-fi offerings that intend to draw focus away from the outside world, and allow us to focus on the here and now.

It may be a strong veer away from what he is known for, but 'Music For Psychedelic Therapy' still makes for an enthralling listen. Winding compositions and mild tones give this record a warming feel throughout, even if it isn't what most of his fans would have expected.