On his 11th studio album, veteran electronic producer Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never) draws creative inspiration from a modern archivist’s dilemma. The album is said to be partially inspired by the potential loss of ’90s-era sample pack CDs—treasure troves of loops and sounds that once fueled music creation. On Tranquilizer, Lopatin transforms these and other sources into a surreal, hour-long auditory journey.

The review describes the album as “mind bending and colorful collages,” where conventional musical composition meets otherworldly sound design. For example, the track “Bumpy” is said to evoke “the final seconds of our universe ticking away,” while “Lifeworld” combines tribal drums with New Age synths to create a soundscape reminiscent of a vintage video game.

The album successfully weaves together sounds from across Lopatin’s own career, with moments recalling the dark synth passages of his *Returnal* era and the piano fragments reminiscent of *Replica*. While the intentionally disjointed and glitchy nature of some tracks can feel challenging, the final songs are highlighted as a masterful fusion of ideas. The closing track, “Waterfalls,” provides a “truly gorgeous finish” to the experience.

The final verdict from the review is a “strong 8,” praising *Tranquilizer* as one of Lopatin’s best records to date. It is seen as a skilled and evocative culmination of his ideas, balancing beautiful, captivating compositions with bold, subversive, and often slippery soundplay.