4. Flying LotusLos Angeles
I feel like over the years, as Flying Lotus’ profile has grown and the perception of his music has changed, Los Angeles has gone a little underappreciated, which I think is unfortunate. You know, as I was listening to it back again for this list, it’s such a wonderful display of texture. And totally different types of texture from Cosmogramma, for example, which aesthetically is a lot more intergalactic and spacious and gives you a little bit more area to let your mind wander. But Los Angeles feels really dirty and grungy and very low key. Almost like a tiny, quiet, Lynchian moment. It’s got this surreal darkness to it that scratches away at your psyche that isn’t as easy to appreciate as something that is as dazzling as Cosmogramma. In its own way, Los Angeles is just as texturally fulfilling, it’s just scratching a different emotional itch.
