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

Boogie - Everything's For Sale

7.1

Debut studio album from Compton rapper Boogie holds true potential, displaying smooth and knacky instrumentals and beats while asserting at clever, lively storytelling and urban poetry.

Highlights

- Guest rappers are great features to the tunes involved.

- Versatility as well as power throughout the record.

- Interesting wordplays all around.

Lowlights

- While it's a good beginning, one cannot help but thinking his whole potential hadn't been reached out on this record. Time will only tell.

Standouts

- Soho

- Skydive

- Silent Ride

Country: USA

Released: January 25, 2019

Length: 38:59

Ariana Grande - thank u, next

6.8

Outbursts of empowerment, reflection and resilience are stubbornly paired up with underdeveloped and redundant trap pop tracks. But despite its turbulence and hurry, thank u, next stands as Ariana's most down-to-earth, sonically consistent and laid back record in her ever-ascending career.

Highlights

- It's good to know it's her first album with all songs co-written and produced by herself, and with no vocal guests at all.

- Most of the tracks are greatly formed and are undeniably catchy.

- The artist's emotional versatility and vulnerability pay off, especially on the slower parts.

Lowlights

- As tightly packed as it seems, there's little coherence in motifs and well-thought connectivity between songs.

- Some less impressive standouts seem equal between one another.

- Ariana's voice doesn't seem to be catching up with her full potential, not even by a half.

Standouts

- thank u, next

- needy

- ghostin

Country: USA

Released: February 8, 2019

Length: 41:10