Flume - Skin

Flume
Skin
2016
Spotify

Flume has always been on some kind of other level, and that has never been more on display than with this sophomore release Skin. Flume has always seemed to float above the mire that can be EDM beefs and shit talking making his music have more depth than your average drop heavy beat. No one doubts He is an incredible producer, no one throws shade He hones his craft almost on an island (He's Australian, see what I did there?). The album starts with "Helix" which is a trippy sound bending experience which brings the listener in with it's almost breathing quality. His music seems to really be based in very organic things, a breath or a touch that swell and build. Even when He takes a stab at a more pop sound like on "Never Be Like You" or "Say It" He still manages to keep a just slightly off kilter. His approach to hip hop is the same, slightly off but perfectly perfect. He makes all of his collaborators better and for a DJ that is what you really want in order to make your songs soar. The influences of Trap and Dub-step cannot be separated from Flume's music, but instead of holding on to those He evolves and pushes to boundaries forward into what He likes to call "Future Bass". That nomenclature may be might sound high minded (and it is) but his ability to still appeal to the masses is simply staggering.

The highlight on the record besides his superstar collaborations is "Numb & Getting Colder" featuring Australian producer and singer Kucka. It is Flume at his most abstract but it really is him at his absolute best. When He let's the weirdness take over is when His music feels the most free. Where a lot of EDM can sound very similar especially at the highest pop level Flume manages to keep his creativity but it still connects. Flume moves from the big to small like no one else and is able to make something sweet and quiet but then blow that all to hell and let every bit of sound hit you square in the jaw. The album does not feel all that risky, but that is only because Flume is so confident in the sound that He has created that to him it is not a risk, it's a challenge. He has said in the past that He wanted each song to be an experiment, and the record feels that way like trying to push something to it's end, where ever that may be. That is one of the reasons that the record does feel a bit disjointed and confusing as a total piece. The songs are distinct, very distinct, which doesn't really translate super well in the album form. Vince Staples, MNDR, AlunaGeorge, Little Dragon and Beck round out the features each bringing something fresh to each of their tracks. Skin succeeds in so many ways and the potential crossover appeal is massive. When Flume hits the road on his huge North American tour prepare for your windows to be shaking all summer.

8.5 out of 10