Headnoaks’ audio expression (also) gazes into the past, the warmth of 90s Techno and IDM alongside the videogame nostalgia of early Rephlex.
Leipzig’s BlackRed cut its vinyl teeth last year with a compilation of terse electronic movements and drawn depth. Now this fledgling imprint is taking one of the artists of this compilation and exploring them further with a full 12”. Headnoaks, aka Markus Leeman, has been releasing music for a number of years now. Leeman has focused on digital releases and has graced the likes of Transient Force and AC Records with his brand of detailed Electro. For BlackRed the Leipzig musician offers up the five tracker of System Neuroscience.
Headnoaks’ sound has always had an IDM undercurrent and that Electronica lean is present from the outset. Echoing keys are faded against a brittle bed of crunched beats as clinical coldness combines with machine melody. The title piece takes its cue from an analogue and digital exchange of layered sound, frostier mechanical tones battling against warmer touches. We enter the tunnel with “Transmitting New System” as beats and bass sprint against one another in death drag-race. But Leeman applies some braking, skeletal harmonies piercing the rampant pace. “7 Skies” reduces the BPM but doubles up with shimmering bars and rich textures. The track is reminiscent of Plant43, cerebral chords floating on arctic winds. The finale comes in the form of “Come Home With Me.” Wonderfully deep arrangements are built, rasping snares and flickering arpeggios producing a subtle and soulful piece.
A number of artists come to mind when listening to System Neuroscience. As mentioned above, there are echoes of Plant43 in here, alongside the likes of E.R.P. and Marco Bernardi’s work on Frustrated Funk. But Headnoaks’ audio expression also gazes into the past, the warmth of 90s Techno and IDM alongside the videogame nostalgia of early Rephlex. A strong addition to the RedBlack catalog.
System Neuoscience is available on BlackRed.
