Is Contact Note a good place to start with Jon Hopkins?

Yes, Contact Note is recommended as a starting point for new Jon Hopkins listeners. A mesmerizing blend of intricate beats and ambient textures that invites listeners into a dreamlike sonic landscape. Released in 2004, Contact Note was Jon Hopkins' debut album, marking his entry into the electronic music scene. At this point in his career, Hopkins had already established himself as a producer for other artists but was now stepping out as a solo artist, developing his unique sound that would later influence the genre.

Who is Contact Note for?

Contact Note works well if you're into immersive journey through soundscapes, wave-like pacing with resolution and ideal for focused deep listening.

How many songs are on Contact Note?

Contact Note has 12 tracks, running approximately 61 minutes.

Contact Note

Jon Hopkins · 2004

61 min · 12 tracks · electronica

A mesmerizing blend of intricate beats and ambient textures that invites listeners into a dreamlike sonic landscape.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Circle Start here — Opening the album with a hypnotic rhythm, 'Circle' sets the tone for the immersive experience that follows, showcasing Hopkins' sophisticated layering of sounds.
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Contact Note — 'Contact Note' exemplifies Hopkins' ability to fuse melodic elements with rich electronic textures, creating an emotional depth that resonates throughout the album.
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Sleepwalker — 'Sleepwalker' features an ethereal quality enhanced by its rhythmic intricacies, capturing the listener's imagination and displaying Hopkins' talent for crafting atmospheric soundscapes.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The album's intricate soundscapes and evolving structures create an engaging listening experience.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of layered synths and rhythmic patterns that evolve gradually over its duration.
Several tracks incorporate field recordings and ambient sounds, creating a textured soundscape that feels immersive.
The first half of the album maintains a steady tempo, while the latter half introduces more varied pacing and dynamics.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

immersive journey through soundscapes
wave-like pacing with resolution
ideal for focused deep listening
reflective moments of sonic exploration

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification
prefer standalone tracks only

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This debut album established Jon Hopkins' reputation in the electronic music scene.
Themes: dreamlike soundscapes· hypnotic rhythms· ambient textures
Career context: Released in 2004, Contact Note was Jon Hopkins' debut album, marking his entry into the electronic music scene. At this point in his career, Hopkins had already established himself as a producer for other artists but was now stepping out as a solo artist, developing his unique sound that would later influence the genre.
Stylistic neighbors: Nils Frahm· Max Cooper· Ólafur Arnalds