Romantiq is a studio album by Oval, a project of German record producer Markus Popp.[1] It was released on 12 May 2023 through Thrill Jockey.[2] It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[3]
Background
Romantiq is based on an audio-visual collaborative project between Oval's Markus Popp and digital artist Robert Seidel for the opening of the German Romantic Museum in Frankfurt.[1] The album draws inspiration from Romantic concepts and works.[4] It incorporates flutes, pianos, trombones, and other period instruments, with digital manipulations.[5] An opera singer's voice is used on the opening song, "Zauberwort".[5] The album's cover art is a still image from video work by Seidel.[6]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 80/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [7] |
| Pitchfork | 7.4/10[6] |
| Spectrum Culture | 65%[8] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Romantiq received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 80 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[3]
Paul Simpson of AllMusic stated, "Far removed from the exuberant maximalism of 2016's Popp and 2020's Scis, the album sounds closer to the electro-acoustic experiments of his sprawling 2010 comeback O, except this one feels like a more focused work instead of an unruly hard-drive dump."[7] He added, "Romantiq's compositions manage to be soothing and reflective even as they restlessly pursue unknown sounds and feelings."[7] Marc Weidenbaum of Pitchfork commented that Oval's instrumentation is "the result not merely of sampling, in the cut-and-paste sense, but of the highly precise reworking and simulation of musical instruments: the ability to craft what can seem real but are, at their core, digital implements."[6]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Markus Popp.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Zauberwort" | 4:06 |
| 2. | "Rytmy" | 3:12 |
| 3. | "Cresta" | 3:34 |
| 4. | "Amethyst" | 4:10 |
| 5. | "Wildwasser" | 4:17 |
| 6. | "Glockenton" | 3:38 |
| 7. | "Elektrin" | 4:32 |
| 8. | "Okno" | 4:48 |
| 9. | "Touha" | 4:16 |
| 10. | "Lyriq" | 2:34 |
| Total length: | 39:02 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[9]
- Markus Popp – arrangement, production
- Robert Seidel – artwork
References
- ^ a b Cooper, Sean. "Oval". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (25 January 2023). "Oval – "Touha"". Stereogum. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ a b c "Romantiq by Oval". Metacritic. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ Terich, Jeff (11 May 2023). "A Guide to Oval's Digital Evolution". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ a b Monroe, Jazz; Hussey, Allison; Minsker, Evan (12 May 2023). "8 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: Overmono, RP Boo, Madison McFerrin, and More". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Weidenbaum, Marc (16 May 2023). "Oval: Romantiq". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Simpson, Paul. "Romantiq - Oval". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ Hazelwood, Holly (17 May 2023). "Oval: Romantiq". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ Oval (2023). Romantiq (CD booklet). Thrill Jockey.
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