Mosaic Tapes - Beloved Algorithms (Lontano Series)
Label: Lᴏɴᴛᴀɴᴏ Series
Released: November 22, 2024
At its heart, the record is, a celebration of the beauty in flaws - stuttering rhythms, fragmented conversations, and glitchy interference are reframed not as obstacles but as textures that breathe life into the music. Using a computer running community-generated patches, Thomas reimagines the mundanity of skipping CDs, distorted shortwave radio signals, and fleeting moments into deeply personal and universally relatable compositions.
The seven tracks on Beloved Algorithms evoke a sense of ephemerality. Opening with “an old friend,” the album gently ushers listeners into a realm of wistful nostalgia, where soft drones are punctuated by fragmented melodies, mirroring the hazy glow of a fading memory. The subsequent track, “kelimba,” introduces more rhythmic elements, as percussive patterns flicker like shadows against an atmospheric backdrop, hinting at Thomas's ability to intertwine playful motifs with introspective undertones.
One of the album’s standout moments is the hauntingly titled “forgotten freight of the north sea.” Here, shimmering drones undulate like ocean waves, while distorted voices and industrial clatters surface and dissolve, evoking a melancholic voyage through time and space. The enigmatic “(____)” feels like a suspended moment-a pause that encourages listeners to project their own narratives onto its sparse and fragmented structure.
“Karaoke bastard” disrupts the album's reflective flow with its sardonic title and erratic pacing, as if mocking the polish of mainstream culture. Yet, even in its chaotic bursts, there’s a sense of deliberation, a layering of sounds that rewards attentive listening. In “a room slowly filling with water,” Thomas excels at crafting immersive environments. This penultimate track feels suffocating yet strangely meditative, as overlapping textures rise and evolve like a flood overtaking a space.
Finally, “important people” closes the album on a subdued note. Its reflective tones and faint hints of melody suggest a quiet farewell, an acknowledgment of the transitory nature of sound and experience.
Mastered by Andrea Porcu, "Beloved Algorithms" is sonically cohesive, its lo-fi textures balanced with a warmth that underscores its human touch. Thomas’s use of ambient, experimental, and tape music elements aligns the album with the likes of William Basinski or Jan Jelinek. Yet, his focus on micro-emotions and idiosyncratic sonic storytelling sets him apart.
While the album may not appeal to those seeking traditional structures or resolutions, Beloved Algorithms offers a richly rewarding journey for listeners willing to immerse themselves in its fragmented, drifting world. It’s an album that, much like its title suggests, finds humanity in the algorithms, joy in the imperfections, and profound beauty in the seemingly insignificant.
"Beloved Algorithms" is more than an album-it’s an invitation to listen deeply and to find wonder in the overlooked. Simon Thomas has succeeded in creating a work that feels, both intimate and universal, a rare and precious beacon in the sprawling landscape of contemporary ambient music.
Rating: 8.9/10
This represents a remarkable achievement in nuanced sonic storytelling. Highly Recommended!
Comments