Album Review: Virtuality by Brian Hopper & Robert Fenner
Let’s just say this album sneaks up on you like a quiet storm. Virtuality—released back in 2001—isn’t your typical rock or folk record. Nope, it’s more of an ambient journey through sounds that feel ancient and futuristic at the same time. It’s tagged under genres like Rock, Folk, World, Country, and Alternative, but honestly? Those labels don’t do justice to how weirdly beautiful this thing is. Picture yourself wandering across deserts, mountains, and cities without leaving your couch—that’s what listening to this feels like.
The UK duo Brian Hopper and Robert Fenner teamed up with Voiceprint Records for this gem, and man, they weren’t messing around. Tracks like “Silk Road Steppes” and “In Waves” are burned into my brain—not because they’re flashy, but because they hit you where it counts. Like, right in the feels.
Take “Silk Road Steppes,” for example. This track starts off slow, almost hesitant, as if it’s tiptoeing into your soul. Then BAM—it unfolds into this sprawling tapestry of sound. The mix of acoustic guitar vibes and these dreamy electronic layers makes me think about dusty caravan trails and endless horizons. I dunno why, but every time I hear it, I picture someone riding a horse toward something big they can’t quite see yet. Feels hopeful, kinda lonely, but also super cinematic. You know those moments when life slows down just enough for you to catch your breath? That’s what this song does.
Then there’s “In Waves.” Oh boy. This one’s different—it’s darker, heavier, but still got that floaty vibe going on. The rhythm pulls you along like tides dragging pebbles back to sea. There’s something hypnotic about the way the melodies rise and fall. Honestly, it reminds me of staring out at the ocean late at night, feeling small but not in a bad way. More like… connected to everything else out there. If that makes sense? Probably doesn’t, but hey, music’s supposed to be messy sometimes.
Other tracks like “Kyoto Koto” and “Myth Andes” keep the magic alive too. They’re all over the place stylistically—New Age meets Ambient meets who-knows-what—but somehow it works. It’s like flipping channels on an old TV and realizing each station is part of the same story.
Here’s the kicker though: this album isn’t perfect. Some parts drag a little, and yeah, maybe some songs blend together after a while. But isn’t that kinda the point? Life ain’t always sharp-edged and clear-cut either. Sometimes it’s blurry and strange and hard to pin down—and that’s exactly what Virtuality captures.
So yeah, give this one a spin if you’re into music that takes its sweet time getting to know you. Just don’t expect instant gratification. Hell, I didn’t even realize how much I liked it until days later, when random bits kept popping into my head uninvited. Kinda like meeting someone new and thinking, “Hmm, interesting…” only to find out weeks later they’re actually pretty damn cool.
Final thought: Listening to Virtuality feels like finding a forgotten map tucked inside an old book. Where does it lead? No clue. But damn if you won’t wanna follow it anyway.
