Proto (Holly Herndon album)

Last updated
Proto
Holly Herndon - Proto.png
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 10, 2019 (2019-05-10)
Length44:07
Label 4AD
Producer
Holly Herndon chronology
Platform
(2015)
Proto
(2019)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.0/10 [1]
Metacritic 82/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Exclaim! 9/10 [4]
Financial Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [7]
Pitchfork 8.2/10 [8]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Resident Advisor 3.8/5 [10]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Uncut 7/10 [12]

Proto (stylized in all caps) is the third studio album by American electronic musician Holly Herndon. It was released on May 10, 2019, via 4AD. [13] It includes the singles "Godmother" and "Eternal", with the video of the latter accompanying the album announcement. [14] The album was called a collaboration with an AI named "Spawn" co-created by Herndon and Mat Dryhurst. [15]

Contents

Background

The album was created in a collaboration with an AI program named "Spawn", created by Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, and located in a "DIY souped-up gaming PC". It features "live vocal processing and timeless folk singing" with an "emphasis on alien song craft". [15] The album features "live training" sessions during which vocalists recruited by Herndon and Dryhurst would teach Spawn how to interpret sounds. Herndon has said that her aim is to make technology seem less "dehumanizing". [16]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Birth"1:14
2."Alienation"3:43
3."Canaan (Live Training)"1:36
4."Eternal"4:45
5."Crawler"5:57
6."Extreme Love" (with Lily Anna Hayes and Jenna Sutela)2:34
7."Frontier"4:29
8."Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt"3:11
9."Swim"4:38
10."Evening Shades (Live Training)"1:33
11."Bridge" (with Martine Syms)2:48
12."Godmother" (with Jlin featuring Spawn)2:30
13."Last Gasp"5:09
Total length:44:07

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [17] 99

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References

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  14. Cook-Wilson, Winston (March 11, 2019). "Holly Herndon Announces New Album PROTO, Releases Video for 'Eternal'". Spin . Retrieved April 5, 2019.
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