Returning to the Huerco S. moniker after releasing albums under several other names, Brian Leeds has moved far beyond the off-center ambient loops of his most celebrated album, 2016's For Those of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have). Plonk is much less hazy than some of Leeds' other work, and often feels dry and clinical in comparison, particularly on the opening track, an intricate web of notes which also seems a bit formless and random. The album does open up, however, and its best tracks feel positively alive. "Plonk III" is an effervescent glide, framed only by a faint hi-hat tick and irregular bass patterns, recalling Barker's stunning ambient trance excursions. "Plonk IV" is more beat-forward, building up anticipation with tight, jittery pulsations before dropping a heavenly bell-like melody. "Plonk VI" starts out sounding closer to For Those of You Who Have Never, but its crystalline loops clear out momentarily for the sounds of talking and footsteps, additionally expanding into chiming synths and complex beats during its most intense section. Far less successful is the jumbled hip-hop experiment "Plonk IX," which features sporadic beats and frankly quite questionable lyrics by Sir E.U. The final "Plonk X" is 11 minutes of slowly rising stillness, very subtly accumulating layers of synth textures and rhythmic ticking, and just as subtly letting them go. Significantly more challenging than other Huerco S. releases, Plonk requires patience from the listener but has some excellent tracks.