Myopia

Released in 2020, Myopia represents the culmination of Agnes Obel's transition into a fully autonomous producer and composer. Recorded in near-total isolation in her Berlin home studio, the album explores themes of self-doubt, trust, and the fallibility of perception. Obel famously manipulated her own vocals to create a 'choir of selves,' using pitch-shifting technology to blur the lines of gender and identity. This technique, combined with her use of celesta, piano, and pizzicato cello, creates a 'neoclassical-noir' aesthetic. The album was released through Strange Harvest and Deutsche Grammophon, signaling its bridge between contemporary pop and classical traditions. Critics noted its 'crepuscular' quality, with many praising the record as her most cohesive and atmospheric work to date, despite its deliberate lack of tempo variation.