We Speak Music
Macro/micro Drops New Album ‘A.fter I.ntelligence’
Electronic music often grapples with the future, but few releases do so with the level of nuance found on Macro/micro’s new album, A.fter I.ntelligence. Created by Los Angeles-based artist Tommy Simpson, the project dives headfirst into questions surrounding artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the uncertain direction of human progress. The result is a listening experience that feels equally philosophical and deeply personal.
Built across eleven tracks and just over fifty-five minutes, the album blends IDM, ambient textures, and experimental composition into a cohesive conceptual statement. Simpson’s production is immersive from the outset, drawing listeners into a world where technological advancement and existential reflection are inseparable forces.
Songs like “Artificial Narrow Intelligence (‘We Can Always Just Shut It Off’)” and “Fully Autonomous War Machines” demonstrate the project’s ability to translate complex ideas into emotionally engaging sound design. Layers of evolving synths, fractured rhythms, and cinematic atmospheres create a sense of movement that mirrors the accelerating pace of technological change.
Yet despite its weighty themes, A.fter I.ntelligence never feels inaccessible. Simpson approaches these subjects through a human lens, focusing on uncertainty, vulnerability, and the search for meaning. Tracks such as “De-empty” and “Inward Retreat” provide moments of introspection that balance the record’s broader concerns about humanity’s future.
The album also benefits from Simpson’s extensive experience as a composer and audio engineer. Having contributed to projects involving Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, his attention to sonic detail is immediately apparent. Every sound feels purposeful, helping reinforce the narrative arc without overwhelming the listener with technical complexity.
A.fter I.ntelligence is ultimately a reminder that conversations about AI are also conversations about ourselves. Through its thoughtful concepts and immersive production, Macro/micro delivers an album that invites reflection long after the final notes of “Judgement Day” fade away. It’s a bold and rewarding addition to the contemporary experimental electronic landscape.
Swiss artist Fanny Alexandra returns with “Black Pearl Summer”, a new single that finds her exploring a more open side of her alternative sound. Released via Now Listen, the track combines coastal imagery with a story about growing through grief, pressure and the experiences that can shape a person over time.
Alexandra notes that the song is relatively summery by her own standards. She has said that her music is usually darker and that she has never been particularly drawn to the typical idea of summer, preferring cold air, jackets and rugged coastlines. That gives the release a clear sense of personality from the outset.
The song centres on Alexandra’s reflections on being 19 and spending years focused on survival rather than fully living. Those experiences are presented through the image of a black pearl, which becomes a way of considering how something worthwhile can emerge from a challenging period.
What makes the track particularly effective is the balance between its subject matter and its musical approach. The production gives the song room to breathe, while Alexandra keeps the focus firmly on the story she is telling. It means the track can be enjoyed as a seasonal release while still offering more to discover in the lyrics.
There is also a clear sense of change in the way Alexandra approaches her younger self. The song is not about returning to that period or trying to erase it. Instead, it considers what can be learned from experiences that once felt overwhelming.
“Black Pearl Summer” therefore offers newcomers a useful introduction to Alexandra’s work. It shows an artist comfortable writing about serious subjects, while also demonstrating a lighter musical side that may not be as familiar to listeners who know her darker material.
It is an interesting glimpse of what Alexandra can do when she lets a little more light into the picture.
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