Music Crowns is proud to premiere the new album release from Macro/micro, A.fter I.ntelligence.
The evolving experimental electronic project of Los Angeles-based composer and producer Tommy Simpson, Macro/micro has steadily built a reputation for creating immersive sonic worlds that merge IDM, ambient textures, and conceptual composition. Across a growing body of work, Simpson explores the intersection of emotional introspection, technological inquiry, and philosophical reflection, using sound as both a medium for expression and a tool for meditation.
His latest release, A.fter I.ntelligence, is perhaps the project’s most ambitious statement to date. Spanning 11 tracks and running 55 minutes and 12 seconds, the concept album offers a deeply introspective exploration of artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the long-term trajectory of human evolution.
Rooted in intricate electronic sound design and expansive compositional thinking, A.fter I.ntelligence continues Macro/micro’s pursuit of what Simpson describes as “deeper, intuitive truths about the relationship between inner and outer space.” The album embraces a spiritually holistic perspective while confronting some of the most urgent questions facing humanity’s future.
Rather than focusing on the current cultural fascination with AI, Simpson turns his attention toward the broader philosophical, ethical, and existential implications of increasingly powerful intelligence systems. Throughout the album, AI is presented not as a technological novelty, but as a force demanding profound reflection. What happens when intelligence exceeds intention? What remains of humanity when the systems it creates begin to outgrow their creators?
These questions are explored through a series of richly textured compositions that balance cerebral concepts with emotional resonance. From the ominous implications of “Paperclip Maximizer” and “Fully Autonomous War Machines” to the existential contemplation of “The Hard Problem: Intelligence Is (Not Necessarily Sufficient for) Consciousness,” the album navigates themes of agency, awareness, and survival with striking depth.
Simpson’s unique artistic perspective has been shaped by a lifetime immersed in music. Having begun training on multiple instruments at the age of five and writing and recording original compositions by thirteen, he has since released numerous albums and EPs under the Macro/micro banner while also composing for film, contemporary theatre, and large-scale art installations. His work has been presented internationally, establishing him as a distinctive voice within forward-thinking electronic music.
Between January 2019 and July 2021, Simpson worked as an audio engineer for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, contributing to the development of scores and recordings for major film and music projects. His credits include HBO’s Watchmen, the films Waves, Mank, and Soul, as well as releases by Nine Inch Nails and Halsey. That experience is evident throughout A.fter I.ntelligence, where cinematic scope and meticulous sonic craftsmanship elevate the album’s conceptual framework.
Ultimately, A.fter I.ntelligence is less concerned with predicting the future than encouraging listeners to engage with it thoughtfully. Through immersive soundscapes, provocative themes, and carefully constructed narratives, Macro/micro invites us to consider not only the technologies we are creating, but also the values, responsibilities, and consciousness we bring to them.
As humanity stands on the threshold of unprecedented technological change, A.fter I.ntelligence serves as both warning and meditation, an evocative soundtrack for contemplating what may come next.
Tracklist
- Clicks (Prologue)
- Artificial Narrow Intelligence (“We Can Always Just Shut It Off”)
- Artificial Super Intelligence (Digital Dark Arts)
- Paperclip Maximizer
- The Hard Problem: Intelligence Is (Not Necessarily Sufficient for) Consciousness
- …are We Are to Ants
- Fully Autonomous War Machines
- Artificial General Intelligence: Ivan’s Eye (“What Have I Done?”)
- De-empty
- Inward Retreat
- Judgement Day
Find Macro/Micro: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, Website
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