"Adam Thomas (aka Preslav literary School ) made everyone stop talking in the background ever since he gave his first concert in Berlin. Often enough eulogised by me, I cannot stop to emphasize how original and delicate his soundings are. Enough to witness, his hands always travelling over two square meters filled with all kinds of (mini-) cassette players, he captures again and again his audience in an opera that travels beyond the realms of literature and music; what you hear might be the sound track of one of your dearer dreams." Das Kleine Field Recordings Festival/Rinus van Alebeek.
Echolalia
Described as "a very exciting release for anyone with a penchant for tape aesthetics" (Geiger), "a fascinating body of work... intriguing, seductive and musical" (Ampersand Etcetera), as managing "to be intellectually and emotionally engaging in a way that no other record has for me this year" (Cows Are Just Food), a "f**king amazing tape loop record!" (Second Layer) and as "one of the craziest things I've heard in ages and yet completely compelling" (Norman Records). Anti-Gravity Bunny said "they take tape manipulation to places I never thought of, ambient doom, grooved psych, gauzy pink bliss, debased spaced journeys, all with the help of impeccably juxtaposed random shit. Echolalia is about as crazy erratic as a record can get while still being fucking fantastic, exceedingly listenable, and coherent."
In Fractals
"Classical minimal drone works." (Ampersand Etcetera)
"Shimmering micro-tones, gloopy drones, affecting loops, deftly time-shifted sonic debris, tape trickery & deviant inputs." (Top 50 records of the year. Lend Me Your Ears)
Beautiful Was The Time
"Beautiful was the Time bears repeated listening. There are numerous indescribable sounds that weave their way into Preslav Literary School's gorgeous recording, and as with any complex music, you discover something new with each listen." (Junkmedia, 5/5, Album Of The Week).
"There is a definite “ghost” quality to this music, brought out by the use of found and manipulated tapes . “Beautiful was the Time” is an interesting listen and serves as a nice short introduction to the music of Preslav Literary School." foxy digitalis
"Three pieces of highly drone music from the lower end of hi-fi spectrum. Things rumble and rattle in a very low grade manner, like in the good ol’ days when people released cassettes and nothing else. Vital Weekly
"Not unlike William Basinski with his Disintegration Loops, a sense of wonder and amazement is conveyed through the sounds, and a sense of otherworldly significance is given to the simplest of actions. Thomas succeeds in making something fragile and exquisite out of tedium and monotony, and that is where the art of Beautiful Was The Time lies. This time truly is beautiful." 4/5: Sputnik Music
"A haunting, subtle piece of sound art that sounds like it could have been emitted from some archaic dream-capturing device." When We Were Younger And Better
"Preslav Literary School salvages tapes and reconstructs them. Pre-recorded sound is given life and vice-versa... optimistic, idealistic and dreamy, he desperately clings on to the new elements which arrive fully formed, escaped from his guidance, and persuades them to stay." By Chance Upon Waking
Pretext/Context
"At times disturbing, definitely inquisitive, this composition requires attention, rewards lurking behind the corner if one’s patient enough." Massimo Ricci, Paris Transatlantic/Touching Extremes
"This is a lovely, creaking, ruddy-complexioned brew of staggering dictaphone melancholy, the sound of a faraway alien orchestra slowly swallowed by warm, wet marsh-gas." alt.vinyl
Autumn Bricolage
"Half way music, halfway aural investigation... the approach of Preslav Literary School results in rich textures and a specific sound that makes his tracks unique and memorable." Phlow Magazine
"...a fine balance between deconstructing itself and creating an audio-environmental soundscape that is fascinating and diverting."Ampersand Etcetera