Virtual Self (EP)

Virtual Self is the debut extended play (EP) by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson under the alias Virtual Self. The EP was released on November 29, 2017, as the first release on the eponymous record label Virtual Self.[2] Virtual Self is a departure from the sounds of Robinson's debut album Worlds, in favor of a more techno sound inspired by late 90s-early 2000s dance music.[3]

Virtual Self
EP by
Virtual Self
ReleasedNovember 29, 2017 (2017-11-29)
Genre
Length20:33
LabelVirtual Self
Producer
  • Porter Robinson
Singles from Virtual Self
  1. "Eon Break"
    Released: October 25, 2017
  2. "Ghost Voices"
    Released: November 8, 2017

Background

Upon announcement, previews of the EP's tracks became available on a website announced by the Virtual Self Twitter page.[4][5]

Virtual Self's first live performance debuted on December 8, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York.[6] The show consisted of an elaborate light show and in tandem with Robinson playing a DJ set. The set included songs from the game Dance Dance Revolution as well as unreleased Virtual Self music and songs from the EP.[7][8]

Porter Robinson has been plotting the Virtual Self project since 2015.[9]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork5.9/10[10]

Philip Sherburne from Pitchfork granted Virtual Self a 5.9/10 and describes the EP as an effort to "make a headlong plunge into an aesthetic rooted in the late 1990s and early 2000s" whose rhythms are "funkless" and "hyperactive", reminiscent of Dance Dance Revolution soundtracks. The critic then pegged "Ghost Voices" as the most contemporary sounding track of the EP and concluded by stating that "Virtual Self hones in on the most garish aspects of Robinson's influences, burning away any possibility of subtlety beneath a billion-watt gleam".[10] Kat Bein of Billboard was positive of the EP, dubbing his alias as "high-concept musical nerdiness with a heavy Final Fantasy vibe" and that the whole record "plays like a killer soundtrack to the best mid-2000s RPG Nintendo forgot to release".[11] DJ Times magazine's Brian Bonavoglia wrote that although the EP's sound was a large change of pace compared to his preceding Worlds album, Virtual Self still maintained all aspects of Robinson's "production brilliance".[12]

Track listing
Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Particle Arts"3:54
2."Ghost Voices"4:26
3."A.I.ngel (Become God)"5:01
4."Key"3:32
5."Eon Break"3:40

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Worldwide November 29, 2017 Digital download Virtual Self

Commercial performance

In the United States, Virtual Self sold 1,000 copies in its first week of release.[13]

Chart (2017) Peak
position
US Dance/Electronic Album Sales (Billboard)[13] 8
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[13] 21
gollark: A true masterpiece of too much free time.
gollark: Weird. Ask for CB Hatchlings and get many offers, ask for "Hatchlings" and get none...
gollark: *ghost noise****pagination is quite easy to implement and will massively improve trading, and was arguably vital anyway****ghost noise*
gollark: ***__PAGINATION__***
gollark: Give me nice stuff, stupid cave...

References
  1. Ochoa, John (February 15, 2018). "Porter Robinson: DJ Mag North America cover feature". DJ Mag. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  2. "Porter Robinson Announces Debut EP as Virtual Self". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  3. Stevo (2017-11-29). "Porter Robinson Releases His Debut Album As Virtual Self [LISTEN]". EDM Sauce. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  4. "Virtual Self announces debut EP, shares song previews". www.dancingastronaut.com. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  5. "Porter Robinson Announces Virtual Self EP & Posts Track Previews". EDMTunes. 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  6. "Porter Robinson Releases Incredible EP As VIRTUAL SELF". EDM Identity. 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  7. "This Fan Recorded Virtual Self's Entire First Ever Show [MUST WATCH]". Your EDM. 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  8. "Porter Robinson Goes Nu-Trance with Incredible Virtual Self Show". EDMTunes. 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  9. https://twitter.com/porterrobinson/status/982753231842390016
  10. Sherburne, Philip (2018-01-03). "Virtual Self: Virtual Self EP Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-02-03.
  11. Bein, Kat (2017-11-29). "Porter Robinson's EP as 'Virtual Self' Brings Bright And Dark Together In A Kaleidoscope of Fun: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2017-11-30. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  12. Bonavogli, Brian (2017-11-29). "Porter Robinson Releases Highly Anticipated "Virtual Self" EP". DJ Times. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  13. Murray, Gordon (December 7, 2017). "Billboard Dance Chart Upstarts: Lost Frequencies & Zonderling, Loud Luxury and Virtual Self". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2018.


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