Flying Lotus has made the strongest album to date with his amazing collection of sounds, beats and instruments; as good as you felt after hearing the sheer brilliance of "Los Angeles."
Part of its delight is how naturally the disparate parts fit together, but another part is how they add up to phantasmagoria if you let your attention wander (and don't be a tight-ass‑-you should).
Cosmogramma is an instrumental genre-jumping journey for head-bopping intellectuals, and the meditative melodies by vocalists Thundercat, Laura Darlington and Thom Yorke only add to the experience.
Warm and inviting, his latest opus occasions swan dives into future soul, funky dubstep ("Dance of the Pseudo Nymph"), Theo Parrish–styled house ("Do the Astral Plane"), and astonishingly, Sun Ra jazz ("Arkestry").
Because in constantly mutating just when you begin to pin it down, drawing everything around in before rearranging atoms before your very eyes, Cosmogramma proves itself time and time again as mind-meltingly boundless as a black hole.
Add in a dabbling in the spirit of free jazz and one might expect this album to be a wilfully discordant aural trial. But it turns out to be quite the opposite. The parts may be disparate but they are made to submit to an abiding mood of vivacity and sunniness.
The best electronic album since Untrue. FlyLo blends a number of different styles together very effectively to create a unique, immersiveThe best electronic album since Untrue. FlyLo blends a number of different styles together very effectively to create a unique, immersive soundscape. This album seizes your brain and doesn't let go for 45 minutes of pure awesomeness, leaving you a more complete, enlightened person than you were before. There's so much to discover on this album, and it only continues to sound better every time I listen to it. Even if you're not really into electronic music, you should check this out. It's unique, progressive, and incredibly fun.…Expand
A brilliant work, takes you on a miniature journey. Excellent to listen to with headphones. Not a dull moment, completely engrossing all theA brilliant work, takes you on a miniature journey. Excellent to listen to with headphones. Not a dull moment, completely engrossing all the way through.…Collapse
A masterpiece of sound, blending four-on-the-floor drums with jazz, among a host of diverse influences. The album is cohesive as a whole, withA masterpiece of sound, blending four-on-the-floor drums with jazz, among a host of diverse influences. The album is cohesive as a whole, with each track blending into the other, but each track stands alone as well. A true step forward in electronica; the only reason I rated it a is because I believe FlyLo can do better. This is hard to describe, just listen to (youtube): Zodiac **** Do the Astral Plane, Recoiled (for a taste)…Expand
A great blend of sound, and an incredibly consistent album. Every song stands out in one way or another, and the sounds are varied andA great blend of sound, and an incredibly consistent album. Every song stands out in one way or another, and the sounds are varied and perfectly put together.…Expand
Cosmogramma is without question his best piece of work .There really isn't a better way to play this album than from front to back. Sure,Cosmogramma is without question his best piece of work .There really isn't a better way to play this album than from front to back. Sure, certain tracks stand out and can easily be skipped to, but it takes away from the full effect of the album. This is an album's album... not for all you cornballs out there who judge albums by how good their "singles" are. The first three tracks are pretty sporadic and instantly suck you in to the album, but the album doesn't really pick up steam until Intro/Cosmic Drama. Considering it's called "Intro" it makes sense. This track sets the tone for the rest of the album, and if you aren't officially pulled in by the next track "Zodiac S***" than your eardrums are tainted. There are several influences that Flying Lotus uses, so it is impossible to put any of this album in to a one specific genre. The heaviest influence is jazz, as there are plenty of horns, but more importantly the song structures mimic jazz quite a bit. Jazz is all about the unexpected and switching gears at will. Cosmogramma consistently does this, so good luck trying to identify individual songs once the album hits the halfway mark. Other influences include hip-hop, dub step, electronic, and even classical music, so I guess you could call this an "experimental" album. This album is an intoxicating experience. The middle portion of "Arkesty", "Mmmm Hmm", and "Do the Astral Plane" is excellent and shows how well FlyLo can blend songs together so effortlessly. "Do the Astral Plane" is my personal favorite track and is without question the one track on the album that makes you want to dance your a$$ off. There are only three tracks with guest vocalists and they're all excellent. "And the World Laughs With You" features Thom Yorke, "Mmmm Hmmm" features Thundercat, and the 2nd to last track "Table Tennis" features, in my opinion, the best vocalist match in Laura Darlington. If that track doesn't lift you in to some sort of spiritual plane, than nothing will. It even uses a sample of a ping pong ball volley. The closing track "Galaxy in Janaki" is the perfect swan song, and even at 18 tracks, leaves you wanting more.…Expand
Sensory overload is how I'd describe this record from the California based producer Steven Ellison. There are certainly highs and lows, allSensory overload is how I'd describe this record from the California based producer Steven Ellison. There are certainly highs and lows, all happening within seconds of each other. Sometimes it works, but for the most part it's a mess not worth picking up.…Expand
Spoiler alert: Kanye West had the best-reviewed album of 2010. But which other releases impressed critics last year? We run down the 40 highest-scoring albums, and also examine the best releases of the year in various categories.