Sydney beatmaker Flume (known to his mom as Harley Streten) has been one of the most talked about young Australian musicians out there, and the buzz surrounding him has been generated in a very short period of time.
I first saw him play at a showcase for last year's FBi Northern Lights Finalists (won by Oliver Tank and Rainbow Chan) in front of a small but appreciative crowd. Even then, his music was polished and accessible, and the acclaim for his music grew after the completion of his Sleepless EP. This release saw him signed to the Future Classic label, and garnered him support slots for the likes of The xx and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, plus appearances at this year's Splendour and Parklife festivals.
As you can imagine with all this coverage, there has been significant anticipation for his album. Released November 9, the self-titled LP has already been critically revered by numerous press and media, with plenty more bound to follow.
A mix of dance, electro, soul, hip-hop, and everything in between, it introduces Flume as a significant artist, not just locally, but worldwide. Current single "Holdin' On" shows off all Streten's talent -- his ability to mold hip-hop with soulful vocals, topping it off with a modern glitch-hop feel. That track cuts away sharply, leading into the much mellower "Left Alone" which features the smooth vocals of Indie Shuffle favorite Chet Faker. "Stay Close" sees a more disjointed approach, while his beats on "Insane" lend themselves to the warped vocals of Moon Holiday. The tracks flow into each other seemlessly, while each song seems to display another element of his repertoire.
This is a quality album, well produced and effortless to enjoy. If you haven't already heard of Flume, you soon will. Readying himself for tours through the US, UK and Europe, the buzz surrounding Harley Streten is only going to grow.
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