Lawrence English - Cruel Optimism
(Room40)

Lawrence English is an artist, composer, engineer, writer, and curator based in Brisbane, Australia. Often described as ambient, drone, or modern classical, his recordings and performances typically utilize field recordings and found sounds in order to explore the politics of perception. Some of his later work is heavier and noisier, expressing bleakness, desolation, and loneliness through waves of distortion.
Cruel Optimism is his 29th album, and is my favorite of his works to date. Cruel Optimism is all about power. Power present and power absent. A meditation on disillusionment and powerlessness, but ultimately an encouragement to press forward towards more profound futures. Painful, but beautifully invigorating. (Lee)
Check out a track here.