Loathsome Smile – Derelict Town
A Loathsome Smile explores immanency within the fantastic Derelict Town, a masterful amalgamation of industrial-rock, psychedelia, post-metal, and eclectic ambience. The album is overflowing with rich ideas and colourful moments, while ferociously moving at an immaculate pace.
The opener, Metro Goldwyn Mayer, exhibits gorgeous and fascinating soundscapes that perfectly set the mood for what’s to come. The track, as well as the album presumably, sonically explores the themes death via Bardo Thödol, in which a person experiences enlightenment consciously before death. The psychedelic and proto-experimental soundscapes are the perfect reflection of said experience. It’s slightly unfortunate one can barely decipher what the artist is saying half the time, though the Frenchman’s charming accent and delivery are half the experience.
There’s not a single wasted moment on Derelict Town. Mundane Words ranks among A Loathsome Smile’s best; the glitchy, delirious soundscapes are equally gritty and iridescent. The outro is both ethereal and demonic. Patriarchal Bully boasts some of the most imaginative and wildly elated soundscapes of the artist’s career. The electronics are without a doubt some of the most creative sonic explorations this side of the century. It’s rare A Loathsome Smile offers serenity between his more chaotic pieces, though if The Winter Come is an indication of his ability to do so, it’s something he should consider doing more in future. The majestic, smooth soundscapes splendidly carry one down Smile’s psychotic stream of consciousness. There’s a twisted, childlike wonder to Lavender Town Dirge, incinerated by Smile’s demonic presence and catastrophic progression. Other standout tracks are Stalker Blues, an engineering marvel, and the closer An Elegy for Childwood, which is wonderfully playfully.
There’s very little to fault with A Loathsome Smile’s Derelict Town. It’s unbelievable how revolutionary the artist’s work has been without an audience to marvel at his brilliance. If the universe was ethically balanced, his work will be discovered and revered in the years to come. Nevertheless, before you’re called home, make sure you make a detour to Derelict Town.
Great
Listen to it here:
Loathsome Smile – Derelict Town
