The 2026 collaborative album from Daniel Tompkins and Chimp Spanner’s Paul Ortiz.

 

Musically, the album develops the atmosphere of Daniel Tompkins’ earlier solo work into darker, more reflective territory. Paul’s spacious arrangements, electronic textures and powerful guitar work sit alongside intimate, close-mic vocals, creating a strong sense of immediacy without sacrificing the dynamic scope associated with Tompkins’ work with TesseracT. 

 

CD in 4-panel digipak with 8-page booklet.

 

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The decision to release the record under the name Prince of Failure reflects the collaborative identity of the project and separates it from Tompkins’ previous roles. It allows the work to exist on its own terms, without reference to past expectations. The ‘Prince of Failure' now stands as an official creative partnership between Tompkins & Ortiz, a shared vision with long-term intent.

 

Written and developed over several years, the album traces a long internal process rather than a single moment of inspiration. The material reflects on neurodivergence, masking, and the psychological weight of living out of alignment with expectation - themes that shape both the narrative & the sound of the record.

 

The Prince is presented as an archetype rather than a persona: a name given to the internal voice formed through self-doubt, perfectionism, & misinterpretation. By defining it, Tompkins reframes it. The songs move through states of disorientation, isolation, and repetition before arriving at a quieter form of acceptance. The emphasis is on observation rather than resolution.

 

“Rightly lauded for his supreme technical skills.”  - Clash