Leave it to Flying Lotus on his new project to land David Lynch. Again, the acclaimed producer keeps pushing musical boundaries, bringing forth his sixth Flamagra studio album. Flamagra feels suitably cinematic in scope with a 66-minute, twenty-seven-track runtime, a strange and diverse sonic odyssey set out under FlyLo’s capable guidance. With guest appearances from the above-mentioned Lynch, Denzel Curry, Anderson. Paak, George Clinton, Tierra Whack, Thundercat, Solange, Toro Y Moi, and more, Flamagra is confident in its vision; sometimes there is ample room for the music to speak for itself.
To those wary of exploring a largely instrumental album, be assured that FlyLo keeps things vibrant enough to retain interest, mixing hip-hop elements with ambient, trip-hop, electronica, etc. Songs such as “Heroes” evoke memories of peak Aphex Twin, while bouncy bops such as “All Spies” play like odd and mischievous Shroom trips. Do yourself a favor and let this one play out- maybe it’s for the best if you lose yourself in the process.