Flume - Hi This Is Flume

8.7

After two years of silence, the Australian producer returns with a mixtape that's his most realized and authentic release to date. Fully inhabiting experimental wonky fields, Flume excells at disjointed story-telling and marvellous bassness with focus, charisma and angst.

Highlights

- The tracks that contain vocals make the singers/rappers shine amazingly.

- All moments feel urgent and desperately hyperkinetic in form and shape.

- There's cohesion and diversity throughout, and a sense of constant self-discovery.

Lowlights

- Some experiments are fantastically executed, but fall too short in comparison to others.

Standouts

- High Beams

- How To Build A Relationship

- Voices

Country: Australia

Released: 20 March, 2019

Length: 38:20

Helado Negro - This Is How You Smile

6.6

The latest release from the Ecuadorian-American singer-songwriter melts into tropical lullabies and spacious poetry in an album that's at times too busy being taciturn and sleepy to leave a moving impression on the listener.

Highlights

- The production, though shy, is packed with beautiful details.

- The transition between songs is smooth and effortless.

Lowlights

- Roberto Carlos' voice cannot sustain the album's momentum for long.

- Some songs are so quiet and numb that they lose the feeling.

- Though relatively short, the record seems too long and dense at times.

Standouts

- Please Won't Please

- Seen My Aura

- Fantasma Vaga

Country: USA

Released: March 8, 2019

Length: 40:54

Nihiloxica - Biiri

8.2

The second EP from the Ugandan ensemble once again defies what "traditional music" actually means by blending Bugandan rhythms with industrial techno, schizophrenic ambient and a perpetuating feeling of danger and disdain.

Highlights

- The music is absorbing and heavy-loaded.

- The musicians are at the peak of their revolutions and moods.

- The record is dark, menacing and relentlessly savage.

Lowlights

- The technique of speeding up the pace in the last minute gets repetitive after the first half.

Standouts

- Baksimba

- Ding Ding

- Digga Dagga

Country: Uganda

Released: February 13, 2019

Length: 19:17

Yak - Pursuit of Momentary Happiness

8.0

The sophomore release from garage revivalists Yak astounds with its imperfect debauchery and innocent anger at and from the world, providing a trenching, exhilarating feeling that transcends comparisons and competence for its vibrance and ugly delicacy.

Highlights

- Oli's voice feels aggressive and tender, giving space for variability and layered sentiments.

- The instrumentals play a decisive role in communicating mood and energy.

- The tracks are catchy, well-executed and well-distributed all throughout.

Lowlights

- Some songs have an excessive pace and energy that might turn into saturated noise.

- There's a lot of Cage The Elephant influences here, as well as Lou Reed and Iggy Pop; maybe too much sometimes.

Standouts

- Pay Off vs. The Struggle

- Bellyache

- Pursuit Of Momentary Happiness

Country: UK

Released: February 8, 2019

Length: 41:35

Solange - When I Get Home

8.8

With When I Get Home, Solange reaffirms her unbeatable ability to concoct effortlessly sequenced tracks that seem like a whole long song while still sharing varied layers and moods altogether. Not only that, but she cements herself as an unstoppable force redefining soul and crafting galactic production that plays with ambient and stoic repetition. More of a complement of than a contraposition to her previous magnum opus, the album lulls with the universal and the sensual in a work of art that transcends and awes from beginning to end relentlessly.

Highlights

- The stellar production team, in love with tiny details, delirious moods and constant magic.

- Solange's voice, as deadpan as savvy, offering just as much as it wants to and no more.

- The sequence the songs hold is a feature few other artists can show off.

Lowlights

- The use of repetition does have a purpose, but it gets excessive at certain parts.

- The majority of the tracks seem like interludes or mini-songs. While they find ways to grab power and substance, one is left wanting for even more.

Standouts

- Almeda

- Down With The Clique

- Binz

Country: USA

Released: March 1, 2019

Length: 39:02