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THE BIG GIG: JON HOPKINS

Saturday 22nd February, London Forum

After collaborations with some of the biggest names in pop and a constantly moving musical direction, comparisons between Jon Hopkins and Brian Eno are difficult to refute. Both started out playing keys for a pop act (Imogen Heap and Roxy Music respectively) before going on manipulate the boards for film syncs and art installations in some of the most innovative ways in music.

Where the younger protégé Hopkins (he even contributed to an LP by Eno) differs to his ambient guru, however, is in his willingness to get his hands dirty with raw, soot-smothered techno, angular in form and slathered generously with the viscous grime of sub-bass. It was such that on ‘Immunity’ — arguably 2013’s most heralded album across the board, even scoring a nomination from the indie-leaning Mercury Music Prize — that collaboration with Coldplay could be forgiven amongst dance heads, paving the way for him to, much like Eno, become one of the most revered sound architects of a generation.

Hence, his live A/V show at Village Underground last summer had to be repeated in September to cater for demand, and this month he is coming to The Forum with another production special supported by DJ sets from Daphni, Luke Abbot and Objekt in association with Soundcrash. Those north of the border can catch him at Glasgow Art School on 22nd February for Leisure System.