Review: BT’s “The Lost Art of Longing”

Brandon Isleib

Brandon has written a baseball book, has playtested a video game for a living, has written a law that gives specific powers to himself, and is proficient at making his bio sound more impressive than it is. He is @restlessmosaic on Twitter for non-baseball content and @baseballspotlit for baseball content.

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2 Responses

  1. Duane says:

    Excellent review. Like you, I’ve been there alongside BT for many years – since Embracing the Sunshine and Loving You More (which in 10 minutes changed everything I understood about what dance music could be). Ima, Movement In Still Life (and Way Out West’s first album – thanks for mentioning that!) were literally holy to me for a number of years. Though I’ve admired every note he’s recorded since then it’s been some time since BT has captured THAT feeling for me (beyond individual tracks) with such precision. He never went away but he’s back for sure 🙂Report

    • Brandon Isleib in reply to Duane says:

      Thanks! I don’t remember how I knew of him before seeing Ima in a used CD shop as a college freshman, but it all went from there. I 100% feel you on “literally holy,” believe me. (And I’m SO happy anyone appreciated the Way Out West reference – you’re the first person I’ve encountered who knew of them.)

      I think the well-rounded/overall blending thing was developing over the years, and it was mostly the minimal/orchestral side “catching up,” not in competency but in adaptability. The line from TBU to If the Stars… to _ is one of increased fusion within in the same section, and while last autumn’s albums could be considered a step to the side, they were also clearly using a lot more classic synths than TBU – an indication that he was figuring out how he wanted to recontextualize them.

      On that point, I think we’re seeing sort of the opposite-direction development from Future Sound of London, who between Accelerator and Lifeforms determined how to take all their ’90s dance equipment and song forms, gut them out, and make creepy ambience with them (with Tales of Ephidrina the halfway house). BT’s development was to bring it all full circle, and I had no idea that was going to happen and it’s lovely to feel.

      Since you’re conversant on all this – have you seen Global Communication’s box set? It also arrived yesterday.Report