It’s a bold move in this attention economy to create an album that requires close listening, but that doesn’t bother leo. If you need a flashy hook, then he doesn’t need you. The Manchester producer’s new album, Cicada Burnt, is an abstract, dubby journey full of pristine sub bass; the swing and syncopation of UK and Detroit dance music; and an ultra-clear sound design. It’s sparse and wandering, with numerous side quests and a tendency to circle back to revisit ideas. The release, on L.A.’s Peak Oil, is more polished than leo’s recent projects — like Dissipating Heavily and the live recording lived II — but it’s not sterile either, featuring distortion and fuzz that add a distressed character to the proceedings.
Cicada Burnt is both vivid and mysteriously…