Flamagra
Flamagra is the sixth studio album by American record producer Flying Lotus (Steven Ellison), released on May 24, 2019 by Warp Records.[6] It is his first album since 2014's You're Dead!.[7] The lead single, the spoken-word "Fire Is Coming" featuring David Lynch, was released along with its video on April 17, 2019.[8] The album also features contributions from Anderson Paak, George Clinton, Little Dragon, Tierra Whack, Denzel Curry, Shabazz Palaces, Thundercat, Toro y Moi and Solange.[9] A deluxe version of the album with the instrumentals was released on May 29, 2020.[10]
Flamagra | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 24, 2019 | |||
Recorded | 2015–2019 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 66:57 | |||
Label | Warp | |||
Producer | Flying Lotus | |||
Flying Lotus chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Flamagra | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Deluxe Edition cover art. |
Background
Ellison said that he had gathered different material from the past five years in the process of making the record, and had a "thematic idea" about making an album with a fire concept during that time. He imagined an "eternal flame sitting on a hill", and upon hearing David Lynch talking at a party he was attending, asked him to record the same words for his album, at which point he said the idea for the album became fixed.[9]
The track "Post Requisite" was featured on the soundtrack of Ellison's 2017 feature film Kuso and was accompanied by a music video. Prior to the album's release, the tracks "Fire Is Coming", "Spontaneous", "Takashi", "More" and "Black Balloons Reprise" were released as singles. The latter is a reprise of the song of the same name from Denzel Curry's 2018 album Ta13oo. The opening track "Heroes" is a new version of the previously released song "Heroes Pt. 5".
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.8/10[11] |
Metacritic | 80/100[12] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [13] |
The A.V. Club | B+[14] |
The Guardian | [15] |
The Independent | [16] |
The Irish Times | [17] |
Mojo | [18] |
NME | [19] |
Pitchfork | 7.8/10[1] |
Q | [20] |
Rolling Stone | [21] |
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, Flamagra received an average score of 80, based on 27 reviews.[12]
Year-end rankings
Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Afisha Daily (Russia) | The Best Foreign Albums of 2019 | 20 |
Commercial performance
As of July 2019, the album has moved 10,000 units in United States.[23]
Track listing
Credits adapted from liner notes.[24]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Heroes" | 2:44 | |
2. | "Post Requisite" |
| 2:08 |
3. | "Heroes in a Half Shell" |
| 1:17 |
4. | "More" (featuring Anderson .Paak) |
| 4:17 |
5. | "Capillaries" | Ellison | 1:54 |
6. | "Burning Down the House" (featuring George Clinton) |
| 3:03 |
7. | "Spontaneous" (featuring Little Dragon) |
| 2:08 |
8. | "Takashi" |
| 5:51 |
9. | "Pilgrim Side Eye" |
| 1:30 |
10. | "All Spies" | Ellison | 1:45 |
11. | "Yellow Belly" (featuring Tierra Whack) |
| 3:11 |
12. | "Black Balloons Reprise" (featuring Denzel Curry) |
| 2:41 |
13. | "Fire Is Coming" (featuring David Lynch) |
| 3:16 |
14. | "Inside Your Home" |
| 1:26 |
15. | "Actually Virtual" (featuring Shabazz Palaces) |
| 1:58 |
16. | "Andromeda" |
| 1:28 |
17. | "Remind U" |
| 2:41 |
18. | "Say Something" |
| 1:15 |
19. | "Debbie Is Depressed" |
| 2:19 |
20. | "Find Your Own Way Home" |
| 1:40 |
21. | "The Climb" (featuring Thundercat) |
| 3:15 |
22. | "Pygmy" |
| 1:24 |
23. | "9 Carrots" (featuring Toro y Moi) |
| 3:01 |
24. | "FF4" |
| 1:11 |
25. | "Land of Honey" (featuring Solange) |
| 3:27 |
26. | "Thank U Malcolm" |
| 1:32 |
27. | "Hot Oct." |
| 4:35 |
Total length: | 66:57 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
28. | "Quarantine" |
| 3:48 |
Total length: | 70:45 |
Sample credits
- "Heroes" contains audio samples of the Dragon Ball series.
- "Black Balloons Reprise" contains a sample of "Ten Et Tiwa" by Alain Goraguer.
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[24]
Musicians
- Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – strings (1, 3, 12, 19, 20, 26)
- Ashley Norelle – backing vocals (4)
- Taylor Graves – keyboards (4)
- Ronald Bruner – drums (8, 26), backing vocals (20)
- Deantoni Parks – drums (19, 21)
- Niki Randa – backing vocals (20)
- Thundercat – bass (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 26, 27), Backing vocals (20, 21)
Technical
- Flying Lotus – mixing
- Daddy Kev – mixing, mastering
Artwork
- Winston Hacking – artwork
- Echelon Color – retouching
- Stephen Serrato – layout
- Guccimaze – typeface design
- Joph (Jeong-woo Jo) – portrait
Charts
Chart (2019) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26] | 55 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[27] | 47 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[28] | 16 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] | 122 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[30] | 74 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] | 60 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[32] | 20 |
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[33] | 36 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[34] | 28 |
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[35] | 96 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[36] | 20 |
UK Albums (OCC)[37] | 25 |
US Billboard 200[38] | 45 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[39] | 5 |
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[40] | 1 |
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[41] | 1 |
References
- Patrin, Nate (May 24, 2019). "Flying Lotus: Flamagra". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- Blistein, Jon. "Flying Lotus Taps David Lynch for Bizarre New Song "Fire Is Coming"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- Torres, Eric. ""Spontaneous" [ft. Little Dragon] / "Takashi" by Flying Lotus Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- Duffey, Connor. "Flying Lotus Shares New Song "More" (feat. Anderson .Paak)". Stereogum. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- Strauss, Matthew (21 May 2019). "Flying Lotus Enlists Denzel Curry for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- "Flamagra by Flying Lotus". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- Renshaw, David (April 17, 2019). "Flying Lotus announces new album Flamagra". The Fader. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- Lamarre, Carl (April 17, 2019). "Flying Lotus Announces 'Flamagra' Album, Drops New Single 'Fire is Coming' Featuring David Lynch". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- Minsker, Evan (April 17, 2019). "Flying Lotus Announces New Album Flamagra, Shares New Video With David Lynch: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- Yoo, Noah. "Flying Lotus Announces New Flamagra Instrumentals Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- "Flamagra by Flying Lotus reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- "Flamagra by Flying Lotus Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- Kellman, Andy. "Flamagra – Flying Lotus". AllMusic. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- Reeves, Mosi (May 24, 2019). "Left-field cameos fuel Flying Lotus' latest odyssey, Flamagra". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- Monroe, Jazz (May 24, 2019). "Flying Lotus: Flamagra review – cosmic voyager's cartoonish cinematic vision". The Guardian. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- Harrison, Ellie; Bray, Elisa (May 23, 2019). "Album reviews: Flying Lotus – Flamagra and The Amazons – Future Dust". The Independent. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- Van Nguyen, Dean (May 20, 2019). "Flying Lotus: Flamagra review – A sprawling masterwork of genius". The Irish Times. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- Chick, Stevie (July 2019). "Hearts of darkness". Mojo (308): 92.
- Hobbs, Thomas (May 23, 2019). "Flying Lotus – 'Flamagra' review". NME. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- Yates, Steve (July 2019). "Flying Lotus: Flamagra". Q (399): 110.
- "Quick Hits". Rolling Stone (1328): 83. June 2019.
- "Лучшие зарубежные альбомы 2019 года" [The Best Foreign Albums of 2019]. Afisha Daily. December 26, 2019.
- Caulfield, Keith (7 July 2019). "Marshmello Dominates Nielsen Music's Mid-Year 2019 Dance/Electronic Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- Flamagra (booklet). Flying Lotus. London: Warp Records. 2019. WARPCD291.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Flamagra (JP booklet). Flying Lotus. Tokyo: Warp Records, Beat Records. 2019. BRC-595.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "ARIA Chart Watch #526". auspOp. June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- "Austriancharts.at – Flying Lotus – Flamagra" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- "Ultratop.be – Flying Lotus – Flamagra" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
- "Ultratop.be – Flying Lotus – Flamagra" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
- "Flying Lotus Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Flying Lotus – Flamagra" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Flying Lotus – Flamagra" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
- "Flamagra on Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2019-06-03" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 31, 2019. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- "Flying Lotus Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- "Flying Lotus Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- "Flying Lotus Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- "Flying Lotus Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.