For Australian producer Harley Straiten, electronic music has become a way of life. Starting at the age of 15, music was always a way for Straiten to enter into his own little world. After signing on with his first record company at age 19 under the moniker Flume, Straiten has had the opportunity to create and share his music with people around the world. An acknowledged leader in 2010s electronic music, Straiten captivates audiences with his mesmerizing DJ Sets and natural production skill. His sophomore album “Skin” was released last week, and is a culmination of over three years of work. From the very beginning of “Skin,” the atmosphere already begins to feel more immersive than his debut album. With plenty of featured artists including Kai, Tove Lo, Vince Staples, Little Dragon, MNDR and Beck, Straiten is able to explore many different applications for his percussive and glossy music.
Instrumental opener “Helix” reintroduces the listener to Flume with distorted bass and arpeggiating synths. Reminiscent of an instrumental SBTRKT song, the track seems to wind up the album in preparation for the fifteen tracks to follow. “Never Be Like You (feat. Kai)” has been the album’s lead single for many months, but feels incredibly comfortable with its placement in the context of the album. Kai could easily turn into a tenured artist on Flume’s future work. Electronic artists Kučka and Tove Lo really seem to shine in their features as well. At first glance, it seems like rappers are the hardest artists to incorporate into Flume tracks. Vic Mensa and Vince Staples both do incredible jobs, but Straiten’s production style seems to better compliment singing voices. That being said, “You Know (feat. Allan Kingdom and Raekwon)” gives the previous statement a run for its money. The chemistry between the two rappers is a breath of fresh air, and everything on this track really seems to click. At the end of the day however, instrumental tracks are definitely where Flume seems to grow the most on “Skin.” Free from having to incorporate any sort of voices in, Straiten’s time signatures become less stagnant and leave room for the fun stuff. “Skin” is filled to the brim with energy, and never seems to have a dull moment. “Take a Chance (feat. Little Dragon)” is one of the best Little Dragon features I have heard in half a decade. “Like Water (feat. MNDR)” is another personal favorite on “Skin.” The album concludes with “Tiny Cities (feat. Beck),” the first and only male vocalist feature on the album. The track fits in perfectly, and seems to tie the previous hour together.
Overall, “Skin” is very well-polished and is an audible display of Harley Straiten’s growth into his role as an electronic producer. Even though the album is incredibly feature-heavy, it never feels like something the listener has heard already. Tallying in at sixteen tracks, this is quite the feat. While there wasn't necessarily a lot of experimentation throughout, each track has the potential to turn into a club or festival anthem and is a great album for the start of summer.
