Oneohtrix Point Never – Cherry Blue
Daniel Lopatin shares “Cherry Blue”, the fifth preview from “Tranquilizer”, his new Oneohtrix Point Never album dropping November 17 digitally (physical copies November 21 on Warp). The track pulls from ’90s commercial-music sample CDs, part of Lopatin’s concept of turning old audio construction kits inside out.
“Cherry Blue” builds around quiet drones that layer into a pulse. It’s pretty without being precious, settling into a rhythm that feels both tired and comfortable. The production keeps things relatively sparse compared to some of his denser work, letting the sounds breathe and drift. Previous singles “For Residue”, “Bumpy”, “Lifeworld”, and “Measuring Ruins” showed different angles of the album, but “Cherry Blue” might be the most subdued so far.
French visual artist Pol Taburet directed the video, his first music video project. The imagery plays with the gaps between life and death, body and spirit, utilising surreal visuals that complement the track’s ethereal quality without attempting to explain it.
Lopatin’s been busy beyond his releases. He scored Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme”, starring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler, the Creator, and Abel Ferrara. That film hits US theaters December 25. He previously won the Soundtrack Award at Cannes for “Good Time” and also worked on “Uncut Gems”, both Safdie Brothers projects.
“Tranquilizer” follows 2023’s “Again”, with Lopatin continuing to mine outdated commercial sounds for something new. Worth checking out if you’re into experimental electronic music that doesn’t feel the need to show off its technical prowess.
