Leon's perhaps best know for his production work for The Fall, Suicide, the Ramones et al, less so for his solo work, which bears no resemblence to those bands. CL's highly regarded Nommos/Visiting duology, recorded with Cassell Webb, was reissued relatively recently by RVNG and does provide some context for this new collection, recorded between 2015 and 2018. Working once again with Webb, these at once propulsive and then meditative instrumental 'movements' draw on a broad palette of influence, as much philosophical/mythological as sonic - the Nommos myth comes from Malian culture and speaks of the visitation to Earth of an alien race who wished to impart their wisdom to mankind.
Take Me To Your Dealer X-Files mythos stuff aside, there's a spiritual, almost ecstatic quality to Leon and Webb's work that to me feels like it's finding a moment again - consider the recent re-interest in Laraaji’s new age meditatons, the overdue appreciation of Suzanne Ciani, even the thirst for Midori Takada's Through the Looking Glass, which drew on similar anthropological interests in African culture and reconfigured them in new contexts. Leon has long shown himself to be a true master of sound and composition, but it's great to hear new material late-career that doesn't diminish the legacy, but adds richness and intrigue. A lot of you will be really into this.
