Imagine yourself driving on a dark highway, late into the night, and you change the radio dial to a station that didn't previously exist until this moment, it just appeared. And on this station, they played a series of songs that fluctuated between a number of genres, like a kaleidoscopic medley of samples from various eras of music. You become worried, wondering if you've gone crazy. But you haven't, it's the music that has, and somehow you're alright with this. You begin to feel the fun grooves of the sampled beats. You're not sure what you're listening to, but you love it. It turns out that this fictional radio station in this scenario has actually been playing the new album, Wildflower, by plunderphonics and electronic group, The Avalanches.
As it's been about 16 years since their beloved and critically acclaimed debut album, Since I Left You, The Avalanches are back in full force with an album that can't make up it's mind on what it's truly about, but that's all a part of the fun. The album, like stated before, incorporates a plethora of sounds, samples, and instrumentation from a variety of genres that ranges from hip-hop, dance, electropop, electro-swing, disco, and funk. There's even samples of gorgeous R&B that I was able to find in the album. Think about how particular it would sound if the styles of Daft Punk, Gorillaz, and DJ Shadow were to be mixed together. That's what Wildflower kind of sounds like.
To me, the album is so versatile and colorful, that I almost feel like I'm in a Baz Luhrman film when I listen to it. You know, that seemingly unpredictable, exaggerated, and over-the-top romanticism that dazzles and flusters with every waking moment, as there are virtually no boring moments in this album. There may be slow and calm moments, but never boring.
The most interesting thing about Wildflower is that it's a contemporary album that is filled to the brim with nostalgia-like melodies and fantastical tones. Many of the songs on the album could be used as the closing song or the end credits song of a heart-felt film that warmed your soul, or least it did by the time it ended. If you want feel good about things, songs like "Sunshine", "Because I'm Me", and "Subways" will definitely make you either want to dance with joy or lay comfortably in content. I guess another part of the album's captivating appeal is just how distracting it is. Like most of the time, I'm able to listen to albums that flow well with the work I'm focusing on, and they actually do a good job of providing a balance between enjoying something and getting my work done. Not this album, it's far too fun to simply have in the background. At least I think so.
And like many of the greatest albums that are either critically acclaimed or that I love personally, Wildflower does a tremendous job at flowing well with itself. Like a well executed stream of consciousness that one would find in a book like American Psycho. Wildflower presents itself like this singular entity of mixed genres and samples that will surprise and delight. In fact, it's not surprising if one finds oneself not being able to tell if one song has started or one has ended, but I suppose that's just what happens with this type of music. This is compelling and beautiful work, nonetheless.
Overall: 8.7 out of 10
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