Artist: Flying Lotus Album: Los Angeles

Year: 2008
Duration: 43:18

A Critical Review of Flying Lotus' Album: Los Angeles

As a music lover, I love discovering new artists and their work, which brings us to the talented Flying Lotus, a music producer from LA. Today, I'd like to delve into his masterpiece album Los Angeles, which was released back in 2008. It's been more than a decade, and this album still has the power to take us through a surreal musical experience that blends glitch, jazz, and electronica. In this blog post, we'll take a brief look at the background of Flying Lotus, the music genre of the album, the best tracks of the album, its most innovative parts, and a critical view of the album.

To understand Flying Lotus as an artist, we need to have a context of his work. Born as Steven Ellison, Flying Lotus started producing beats for a living after dropping out of college in 2005. He gained attention quickly, thanks to his unique vision, and he was signed by acclaimed record label Warp Records. Shortly after, he released Los Angeles, which was a critical and commercial success. The album earned him a reputation for pushing the boundaries of experimental electronic music.

Los Angeles is a combination of different genres that create a unique sound that's hard to forget. The album weaves layers of jazz and hip-hop with electronic beats and samples. With tracks such as GNG BNG, Beginners Falafel, and Camel, Flying Lotus creates an evocative musical journey through the complex and diverse city of Los Angeles.

The album's standout tracks include Parisian Goldfish, which is a hypnotic and dreamy ride through time and space. The track starts with a mystical harp sample, which is then layered over with jazz saxophone that's played over a heavy hip-hop beat. The result is an ethereal and mysterious sound that takes us on a journey through our imagination. Another track worth mentioning is Massage Situation, a slow-building track that's reminiscent of Terry Riley's minimalism. The track is both hypnotic, relaxing, and alienating, and it's hard to resist its mesmerizing spell.

One of the most innovative aspects of Los Angeles lies within the way Flying Lotus blends different styles and genres of music. He creates an abstract sound that's both challenging and fascinating, infused with a strong sense of musicality. The way he mixes jazz improvisations with electronic production is unlike anything else in the music industry. His music creates a musical landscape that's both modern and ancient, futuristic and nostalgic.

However, as with any album, some areas need improvement. In Los Angeles, there are moments of experimentation that feel a bit disjointed and unfocused. Sometimes, the album's loose structure can become a bit difficult to follow, especially for those who are new to Flying Lotus' brand of music.

In conclusion, Los Angeles is undoubtedly a pioneering album in the new wave of experimental electronic music. Flying Lotus' blending of different genres creates a unique sound that's both innovative and fascinating. The album feels like a journey through the city it's named after, with all its chaos and complexity. However, there are moments where the album loses its focus and becomes difficult to follow. Overall, Los Angeles is an album that's worth listening to for anyone who's interested in pushing the boundaries of experimental music.

In conclusion, Los Angeles is undoubtedly a pioneering album in the new wave of experimental electronic music. Flying Lotus' blending of different genres creates a unique sound that's both innovative and fascinating. The album feels like a journey through the city it's named after, with all its chaos and complexity. However, there are moments where the album loses its focus and becomes difficult to follow. Overall, Los Angeles is an album that's worth listening to for anyone who's interested in pushing the boundaries of experimental music.