Album Review: Flying Lotus, Flamagra

Renowned experimentalist FlyLo is back with his first LP in five year. It doesn’t disappoint. With collaborators ranging from David Lynch to Solange, Flamagra is characteristically eclectic. After tranquil opener ‘Heroes’, the music veers off into some thrilling chaos. The first feature of the album comes with Anderson .Paak’s appearance on ‘More’, and the rapper’s upbeat energy proves spellbinding. Musically, it’s fun, 8-bit effort, which nicely ties into the record’s sci-fi theme.

Halfway through, Flamagra takes a darker twist, as Lotus starts to explore more dystopian terrain. The recurring motif of fire pops up again on ‘Burning The House’ (featuring George Clinton), as well as ‘Fire Is Coming’, on which David Lynch appears to unsurprisingly disconcerting effect. The music as this point conveys a sense of panic and impending doom, though the record settles down again in the home stretch: the calm after the storm. The tumultuous synth and bass lines are replaced with soothing harp and violin, with the Solange-featuring ‘Land Of Honey’, in particular a serene beauty.

Though occasionally lapsing into monotony, Flamagrama nonetheless makes for a satisfying return from one of the most innovative producers in hip-hop and electro.

7/10. Out now.