A love-letter to Siren Spine Sysex

What is the purpose of music? An auditory vessel for dancing? A distraction from our inner voices? The answer is different depending on who you ask and when. For me, it serves as the primary vessel for unlocking the emotions that previous trauma has hidden away, for better or worse. Pulling the curtain back on forgotten memories, and filling me with a spectrum of consciousness and cognisance. Siren Spine Sysex accomplishes both, whilst simultaneously providing a level of technical production proficiency and potential not heard since Aphex Twin. Listening to ‘Siren Spine Sysex’ by Scottish native Proc Fiskal [real name Joe Power] is overwhelming. An auditory barrage akin to the age of content and anxiety, the noise confuses and then ultimately seduces. Signed to the legendary label Hyperdub at only nineteen years of age, his second album accomplishes a feat not done before, blending and deconstructing the sounds of his Celtic ancestors with futuristic sonics that open an auditory third eye. This work is a testament not only to the unique sound of the UK club scene but also a challenge and testament to the idea of great art.

With Anti Chesst, the album’s opening track, the sound of rain greets. Suddenly thrown into a complex mix of deconstructed, low-bit-depth percussion, and a sub-bass with the weight of a comfort blanket. Power’s creativity is unlimited, building a nostalgia so powerful it feels like you’ve been shot out of a cannon into the distant past of your life. Creating nostalgia through music is an ineffable task at the best of times, doing so with the palette of modular synthesis, Celticx linage, and crushed percussion is extraordinary.

Convaerge Iana discombobulates you. Panned vocals reverberate around you while we are drilled with the sound of 808’s and schizophrenic percussion. Power uses low frequencies to anchor us, yet rhythmically he evokes movement, stuttering electronic hi-hats and erratic sample chops stew in the mix leaving you completely entranced. As you come down from this trip, we are left with soft Scottish vocals, distorting and moving to trick the listener into a state of paranoia.

8 Mgapixel See Thru Phone broke down walls built high and heavy within me. My face drowning in tears, the slight taste of salt forever stained in this track. The urgency created by the vibraphone-esque synthesisers merged with the sirens was an auditory awakening.

Forever changed, Leith Tornn Carnal meets with a warm embrace. Crackling female vocals torn apart yet undeniably Scottish, this track is a sonic forgiveness. Nostalgia-filled, with dance elements demonstrated through the more consistently patterned percussion, you can do anything.

The paradox between traditional Western-based harmonic keys here and dissonant percussion both unsettles and invigorates you. Technically, there is no question that his ability is anything besides prodigal. However, unlike musical intellectuals like Jacob Collier, his music is wholly new and genre-pushing. Throughout, Celtic easter eggs in the form of deconstructed audio samples are laden.

If Aphex Twin stands at the summit of technically produced electronic music, Proc Fiskal is only moments away. Few albums leave you with a new perspective, Joe Power collect your Celtic flowers, and my sincerest thanks.