7/10

When he released his seminal 2014 album 'You're Dead', it was seen as quite the watershed moment for Flying Lotus. With his previous releases standing as a bold and wild take on experimental electronica, his previous full-length was the point in which he found his flow, crafting a record that was just as much about envelope-pushing as it was about engaging and captivating compositions. But now it seems that the producer has returned to his more experimental roots as he delivers his sixth LP 'Flamagra', the release that looks to call back to those irreverent early beginnings.

As the nephew of jazz legend John Coltrane, the producer has always had this strong jazz-inspired streak running through his work his entire career, continually shifting and changing his direction at a moment's notice. And while it has always been a major part of his style, it feels that this time around he has pushed the unconventional nature a tad too far. While there is plenty to enjoy on this new collection, notably his collaborations with Anderson .Paak, funk legend George Clinton and Solange, there seems to be too many moments where this record slips into showcasing short interludes of ideas that almost come across as brief and incomplete works.

While we understand that these additions have always been part of his aesthetic, 'Flamagra' seems to have more of a jumbled feel to it that what we are used to. A strong return either way from the producer, but one that feels like he fell into his own self-indulgent workspace more often than not.