Monument Builders
2016 studio album by Loscil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monument Builders is a studio album by Canadian composer and record producer Scott Morgan under the pseudonym Loscil.[3] It was released on November 11, 2016, through Kranky.[4] It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[5]
| Monument Builders | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 11, 2016 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:40 | |||
| Label | Kranky | |||
| Producer | Scott Morgan | |||
| Loscil chronology | ||||
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Background
Monument Builders is Loscil's first studio album since Sea Island (2014).[6] He drew inspiration from rewatching a VHS copy of the documentary film Koyaanisqatsi (1982), as well as its score composed by Philip Glass.[7] He was also inspired by the works of photographer Edward Burtynsky and the writings of philosopher John Gray.[7] A music video was released for the track "Drained Lake".[8]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 77/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[9] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[10] |
| Pitchfork | 7.4/10[11] |
| PopMatters | 7/10[12] |
| The Skinny |  [13] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Monument Builders received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from 11 critic scores.[5]
Heather Phares of AllMusic stated, "Monument Builders is a powerful reminder that ambient music is a fine conduit for emotionally and politically charged messages, and it's one of Morgan's finest works yet."[1] Daniel Sylvester of Exclaim! commented that the album "finds Loscil at his most focused, political and meticulous, a bleak but fulfilling listen whether you're aware of the album's brainy themes or not."[9] Brian Burlage of Pitchfork described it as "a highly visual album, a mosaic of images depicting construction, erasure, devastation, redemption, and transformation."[11]
Finbarr Bermingham of The Skinny stated, "This is a breathless and dense record, built on layers of crackle, fuzz and dystopian fugue."[13] He added, "What really capture the imagination, though, are the fleeting, stark melodies Loscil introduces on almost every track."[13] Ian King of The Line of Best Fit stated, "Leaving listeners in the 'Weeds' surrounded by a swirl of haunting whispers, Monument Builders doesn't offer a happy ending, but nor is it devoid of hope."[10] He added, "Perhaps Loscil's most confrontational record, it processes the darkness in order to expunge it."[10]
Accolades
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllMusic | Favorite Electronic Albums | — |
|
| Somewherecold | Top 10 Albums of the Year | 4 |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Scott Morgan.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Drained Lake" | 6:46 |
| 2. | "Red Tide" | 5:25 |
| 3. | "Monument Builders" | 4:43 |
| 4. | "Straw Dogs" | 4:57 |
| 5. | "Deceiver" | 4:41 |
| 6. | "Anthropocene" | 4:39 |
| 7. | "Weeds" | 6:29 |
| Total length: | 37:40 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[15]
- Scott Morgan – production
- Nick Anderson – French horn (2–4, 6)
- Erik Nielsen – French horn recording (2–4, 6)
- Joshua Stevenson – synthesis (2, 6)
- Ashley Pitre – vocal sample (7)
- Rafael Anton – mastering
- Bob Weston – lathe cut