365 ELECTRONIC MUSIC ALBUMS IN 365 DAYS

Day 9: Skin — Flume

Genres: Glitch Hop / Future Bass
Year: 2016
Country: Australia

(This is completely a personal opinion. I’m not a musician and I don't have technical knowledge of music theory; I simply love electronic music and wanted to share this journey.)

Flume is one of those rare producers who managed to accomplish something incredibly difficult within electronic music:

Innovation without sacrificing popularity.

Harley Edward Streten, better known as Flume, is, in my opinion, one of the main reasons Future Bass became one of the defining sounds of the 2010s. Long before countless producers began experimenting with the techniques that now dominate much of modern electronic music, Flume was already pushing boundaries with unusual textures, unconventional rhythms, and production choices that challenged the established EDM formula.

And he was doing it at a time when much of the scene was still obsessed with massive drops and predictable festival anthems.

Skin was his second studio album and arguably the project that cemented his global reputation. Running almost exactly one hour in length, the album received widespread critical acclaim and ultimately won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

And honestly, it's easy to understand why.

From the opening moments of "Helix," the record makes it clear that it has no interest in following conventional paths. There's a constant intensity throughout the production, a feeling of movement that never disappears, and an incredible attention to detail.

The collaborations are equally impressive.

Kai, Vic Mensa, Vince Staples, Tove Lo, and even Beck appear throughout the album, each contributing something unique to the experience.

While listening to the record in the morning before work, I found myself thinking that Skin is a perfect title for this album.

Human skin doesn't feel the same everywhere.

The texture of your hands differs from the texture of your face.

Sensitivity changes.

Perception changes.

And that's exactly how this album feels.

Every song seems to have its own texture.

Every track offers a different sensation.

Every production explores a new emotional space.

At times it reminded me of something I also found in Aphex Twin's work: the feeling that each piece has its own identity while still belonging to a larger universe.

Some songs may initially confuse casual listeners. Certain transitions are abrupt, some structures seem unpredictable, and it's not always obvious where a track is heading.

But once you realize the album's goal isn't to deliver the same emotion repeatedly, but rather to make you feel something different with every song, everything starts to click.

And it works.

I have to admit that Future Bass isn't my favorite electronic genre.

Yet it's one of those styles I'm always willing to revisit from time to time.

Like a good glass of carajillo.

PERSONAL CONCLUSIONS

After spending several days exploring classics from the 1970s, 1990s, and early 2000s, we're finally beginning to move closer to more contemporary sounds.

And we'll continue doing so.

Part of this journey is understanding where electronic music is heading and which artists are helping shape its future.

Flume is unquestionably one of those artists.

Listening to Skin also makes me think about my own creative ambitions and the ideas I'd like to explore someday in my own projects.

But everything in its own time.

If I had to recommend this album, I'd probably suggest it first to someone already interested in Future Bass rather than someone looking for a casual introduction to electronic music.

That said, Skin remains an incredibly enjoyable album even for listeners who don't usually follow the genre.

So let me finish with a simple question:

Do you like the way modern Skrillex sounds?

Then I've got news for you.

DAY 9 — SKIN

There is more beyond the skin...

[ LISTEN TO THE ALBUM ]