It still placed his experimentation and left-field approach to dance music in the front-and-centre, but did so in a way that capitalised on his growth in the years since his debut, mixing moments more nostalgic of his early work with ones that felt like a pop songwriter finding his footing in a traditionally 'boring', Max Martin-dominated game. Vince Staples, KUČKA and SOPHIE) and pop hooks over moments a little more tender and accessible ( Never Be Like You feat. While Flume was an album that played with experimentation and the 'unknown', his second - 2016's Skin - was one that built on this and commercialised it, placing indie rappers over clunky productions ( Lose It feat. He's an artist not just in front of the curve, but defining it instead his sounds, rhythms and styles often mimicked - perhaps copied - on both a small and large scale in the years following Flume's initial forays. His break-out, self-titled debut album pushed forwards an entire sub-genre of electronica that united Dilla's hip-hop percussion with swelling synth and glitching percussion, aiding other pioneers including Rustie and TNGHT's Hudson Mohawke to bring cult-favourite sound blossoming only in the depths of Soundcloud into mainstream appeal, something we're still feeling the waves from through acts including The Chainsmokers.
Since his early remixes and break-out single Sleepless back in 2011, the Australian electronic musician has been at the forefront of electronic growth and experimentation.
It's hard to find an artist quite like Flume.