SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: POPPY – FLUX

Poppy
Flux
Sumerian Records

When looking at Poppy’s career over the best few years, her musical style has been undeniably alluring, confident, and dynamic in her delivery. Her releases have proven that she can tackle a myriad of genres to justify the gradual sky-rocketing of her popularity. But while her genius approach to musical dissonance cannot be denied throughout her previous work, her new album Flux seems to attempt something more augmented and less abstract in its delivery.

Flux is not only an album that is redefining her career as an artist but cementing the fact that she can make a cohesive album that still bears unique charm. While the lyrical tone is still impassionate and self-aware akin to her predecessors, there is a contoured approach to Flux that makes this so beautifully appealing.

Standout diamond-studded tracks like “So Mean” show a level of intoxicating musicianship at its highest levels with varying gradations of guitar riffs, vocal control, soundscape atmosphere, and infectious lyricism. Pulling us deeper into the album’s fascinating journey, Poppy keeps the listener engaged for what’s to come for the rest of the experience.

Another beautiful ethereal experience is “Hysteria.” With gorgeous twined, echoing guitars within the daydreamy backdrop of Poppy’s otherworldly vocals, it’s a song listeners will return to over and over again.

“As Strange As It Seems” is stunning, moody, and beautifully heavy. Orchestrally fascinating and the focal point of the album, Poppy hypnotizes us delicate down-tuned guitar strings, gritty synths, and melodic vocal exploration that will leave many awestruck by its delivery.

Emotional numbers such as closing “Never Find My Place” tie the album up wonderfully. Showing Poppy’s extensive knowledge of music composition, “Never Find My Place” captures all the musical energies we come to love about Poppy and the album itself all in one track with finesse.

Flux is an exciting and multi-faceted work of art that dazzles and enchants our aural senses and shows just how impressive Poppy is as an artist in her own right. A musical force to take on should another album present itself anytime in the future, Poppy has defied and even somewhat surpassed all expectations with this latest release.

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