Not A Headliner’s music seems to demonstrate a concept that is always heavily discussed: It’s very easy to emulate the work of the pioneers, but to understand their essence, and create something new from the blueprint of the originators, that’s where real advancement lies. Crafting 5 originals, Not a headliner is able to distil the purpose of the sonic language he’s bathed in without ever sounding derivative. From the Millsian UFO transmissions of the opener “Neglected Population”, to the head charge of “Weekly Designer”, pummeling on a grid like an S-bahn carrier. Our endeavour continues with “El Precio”, a nod to Birmingham’s desolate post-industrial landscape, resonating within towering concrete walls of abandoned steel mills. Closely following, “Outperform” is a surgical techno effort where filtered slices fall on an intricate cobweb. We are seen off by “Aquafuture”, a culmination of euphoric hallucinations on the Hardcore Continuum. Our dear friend Lucia Gea puts a twist on “El Precio”, ramping up the industrial tones by incorporating lasered pangs, with machinery whirring us into a constant state of alert.