Lawrence English - Cruel Optimism (2017)
Lawrence English - Cruel Optimism (2017)
Ambient, Drone, Experimental | 38:54 min | WEB FLAC (tracks) | 162 MB
Label: Room 40
Ambient, Drone, Experimental | 38:54 min | WEB FLAC (tracks) | 162 MB
Label: Room 40
Perhaps the most ambitious and absorbing album yet from Lawrence English, featuring a whole host of friends and collaborators including Swans’ Norman Westberg, The Necks’ Chris Abrahams and Tony Buck, Mats Gustafsson, Werner Dafeldecker and The Angels of Light’s Thor Harris. It’s an arctic, ice-cold meditation rendered in the most beautiful drone and semi-orchestral variants - think somewhere between William Basinski, Akira Rabelais and Badalamenti at his most terrifying. A huge recommendation.
Lawrence English carries the weight of the world in the emotive blows of Cruel Optimism; his tortuous yet somehow triumphant follow-up to the Wilderness of Mirrors (2014) LP, which was conceived prior to the present socio-political sh*tstorm, and attempts to present “a meditation on these challenges and an encouragement to press forward towards more profound futures”.
Inspired by the title of a critical text by American theorist Lauren Berlant, whose analysis of the contemporary crisis points to the elusive promise of neoliberalism - particularly its inherent sense of hauntological trauma - Cruel Optimism is offered by English as a reflection “on how power consumes, augments and ultimately shapes two subsequent human conditions: obsession and fragility”, and does so in a way that viscerally resonates with the long-standing, recurring themes of his work: deferred ecstasy, textural decay and the way they affect perception.
Galvanising strength through collaboration, as opposed to the solo introspection of Wilderness…, English elected to work with a number of his peers for this record, who all gauzily serve to enrich these recordings, which each carry the subtle, if distinct presence of plural spirits in the mix. Object Of Projection is especially hard-hitting, recalling Deathprod’s life-changing Treetrop Drive with its looped refrains, albeit here submerged underneath a tonne weight of sonic detritus that triggers nostalgia and dread in the most evocative manner imaginable - perhaps the most astonishing 5 minutes in all of English’s by-now sizeable catalogue of work.
English carefully consolidates every element on this album within the democracy of the soundfield; we may be able to discern the crucial gestures of Norman Westberg’s clanging chops in Hammering A Screw or smudged into the soberly grand dimensions of Requiem For A Reaper/Pillar Of Cloud and the waking dread of Somnambulist, but, in effect, thru English’s enigmatic processing, his ego is properly sublimated into the ether and as vital as any other to the record’s sense of swelling, aching communal pathos.
Tracklist:
01. Lawrence English - Hard Rain
02. Lawrence English - The Quietest Shore
03. Lawrence English - Hammering a Screw
04. Lawrence English - Crow
05. Lawrence English - Requiem for a Reaper - Pillar of Cloud
06. Lawrence English - Exquisite Human Microphone
07. Lawrence English - Object of Projection
08. Lawrence English - Negative Drone
09. Lawrence English - Somnambulist
10. Lawrence English - Moribund Territories
fooCDtect - foobar2000 + auCDtect, baralgin.
auCDtect: CD records authenticity detector, version 0.8.2
Copyright © 2004 Oleg Berngardt. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 Alexander Djourik. All rights reserved.
mode: 0
===========================================
Track: 03. Lawrence English - Hammering a Screw
Processing file: [03. Lawrence English - Hammering a Screw.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.017324e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.360269e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 1.966744e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 4.013355e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.119395e-001
First order smothness: 4.912959e-001
Second order smothness: 1.769826e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 02. Lawrence English - The Quietest Shore
Processing file: [02. Lawrence English - The Quietest Shore.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.028393e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.344887e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.122628e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 1.016641e+004 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.063700e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 2.639187e-001
First order smothness: 3.935185e-001
Second order smothness: 4.427083e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 01. Lawrence English - Hard Rain
Processing file: [01. Lawrence English - Hard Rain.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.028368e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.390313e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.003575e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 4.237044e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.135648e-001
First order smothness: 4.323563e-001
Second order smothness: 2.243517e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 04. Lawrence English - Crow
Processing file: [04. Lawrence English - Crow.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.028866e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.354367e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.022969e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 3.958497e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.027261e-001
First order smothness: 4.472554e-001
Second order smothness: 2.429594e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 99%
===========================================
Track: 05. Lawrence English - Requiem for a Reaper - Pillar of Cloud
Processing file: [05. Lawrence English - Requiem for a Reaper - Pillar of Cloud.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.019242e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.268217e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.143717e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 5.671102e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.071017e+000
First order smothness: 3.469767e-001
Second order smothness: 5.186047e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 06. Lawrence English - Exquisite Human Microphone
Processing file: [06. Lawrence English - Exquisite Human Microphone.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.027450e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.366530e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.095580e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 6.043883e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 7.217440e-002
First order smothness: 3.793272e-001
Second order smothness: 5.543637e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 07. Lawrence English - Object of Projection
Processing file: [07. Lawrence English - Object of Projection.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 1.945391e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.266896e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 1.867685e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 6.232836e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 7.779628e-002
First order smothness: 4.665579e-001
Second order smothness: 2.847358e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 08. Lawrence English - Negative Drone
Processing file: [08. Lawrence English - Negative Drone.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.019853e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.402162e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.107812e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 9.421931e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.275376e-001
First order smothness: 3.115994e-001
Second order smothness: 5.619597e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 09. Lawrence English - Somnambulist
Processing file: [09. Lawrence English - Somnambulist.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.012643e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.367002e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.021633e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 1.017621e+004 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.061500e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 9.248979e-002
First order smothness: 4.437824e-001
Second order smothness: 3.606218e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 10. Lawrence English - Moribund Territories
Processing file: [10. Lawrence English - Moribund Territories.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.040321e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.312376e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.155553e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 8.500816e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.149300e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 3.795952e-001
First order smothness: 3.513992e-001
Second order smothness: 6.618272e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
auCDtect: CD records authenticity detector, version 0.8.2
Copyright © 2004 Oleg Berngardt. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 Alexander Djourik. All rights reserved.
mode: 0
===========================================
Track: 03. Lawrence English - Hammering a Screw
Processing file: [03. Lawrence English - Hammering a Screw.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.017324e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.360269e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 1.966744e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 4.013355e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.119395e-001
First order smothness: 4.912959e-001
Second order smothness: 1.769826e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 02. Lawrence English - The Quietest Shore
Processing file: [02. Lawrence English - The Quietest Shore.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.028393e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.344887e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.122628e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 1.016641e+004 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.063700e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 2.639187e-001
First order smothness: 3.935185e-001
Second order smothness: 4.427083e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 01. Lawrence English - Hard Rain
Processing file: [01. Lawrence English - Hard Rain.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.028368e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.390313e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.003575e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 4.237044e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.135648e-001
First order smothness: 4.323563e-001
Second order smothness: 2.243517e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 04. Lawrence English - Crow
Processing file: [04. Lawrence English - Crow.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.028866e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.354367e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.022969e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 3.958497e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.027261e-001
First order smothness: 4.472554e-001
Second order smothness: 2.429594e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 99%
===========================================
Track: 05. Lawrence English - Requiem for a Reaper - Pillar of Cloud
Processing file: [05. Lawrence English - Requiem for a Reaper - Pillar of Cloud.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.019242e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.268217e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.143717e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 5.671102e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.071017e+000
First order smothness: 3.469767e-001
Second order smothness: 5.186047e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 06. Lawrence English - Exquisite Human Microphone
Processing file: [06. Lawrence English - Exquisite Human Microphone.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.027450e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.366530e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.095580e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 6.043883e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 7.217440e-002
First order smothness: 3.793272e-001
Second order smothness: 5.543637e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 07. Lawrence English - Object of Projection
Processing file: [07. Lawrence English - Object of Projection.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 1.945391e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.266896e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 1.867685e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 6.232836e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 7.779628e-002
First order smothness: 4.665579e-001
Second order smothness: 2.847358e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 08. Lawrence English - Negative Drone
Processing file: [08. Lawrence English - Negative Drone.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.019853e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.402162e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.107812e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 9.421931e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.189100e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 1.275376e-001
First order smothness: 3.115994e-001
Second order smothness: 5.619597e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 09. Lawrence English - Somnambulist
Processing file: [09. Lawrence English - Somnambulist.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.012643e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.367002e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.021633e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 1.017621e+004 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.061500e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 9.248979e-002
First order smothness: 4.437824e-001
Second order smothness: 3.606218e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================
Track: 10. Lawrence English - Moribund Territories
Processing file: [10. Lawrence English - Moribund Territories.aucdtect]
Detected average hi-boundary frequency: 2.040321e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-boundary frequency: 1.312376e+004 Hz
Detected average hi-cut frequency: 2.155553e+004 Hz
Detected average lo-cut frequency: 8.500816e+003 Hz
Maximum probablis boundary frequency: 2.149300e+004 Hz
Coefficient of nonlinearity of a phase: 3.795952e-001
First order smothness: 3.513992e-001
Second order smothness: 6.618272e-001
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
This track looks like CDDA with probability 100%
===========================================