Listening/music info: Bandcamp
Info
Inflo just released their third numbered compilation album, a full-sized volume as opposed to the more snack-sized flightbox from earlier this year. The concept this time is just a single word, sexuality, though it aims to explore it broadly, because sex can be a part of our identities and our actions, our joys and our pains, our work and our play and our art.
So as an album focused on sex positivity, the majority of the music here you could describe as, well, positive—uplifting in tone, or cheeky/suggestive in title, or encouraging in lyrics. The first and last tracks in particular are some of the most celebratory-sounding on the album, setting it up as a joyful experience with a triumphant takeaway.
But there is real darkness, real violence on this album too. Some of it is of course negative in its subject matter, most straightforwardly “A Lifetime Isn’t Long Enough,” which depicts the aftermath of sexual violence. But some of it is positive as well; the ethos statement denounces “nonconsensual violence” but not violence as a whole, recognizing that through kink, violence can be and is part of the sexual expression of many. It was nice to see the album tackle the breadth of experience in this way and not just focus on a more sanitized facade.
Solid album for sure, I think this is probably my favorite Infloresce compilation release now; its closest competitor is their first one, Floral Folklore, but I’m pretty sure this wowed me more.
Recommended tracks:
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“Fingerprint Blemishes” (Winnie) starts off really cutesy with some nice bubbly sounds before switching to a more post-rockish kind of build, also make sure to say “hello” back to it
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“bait” (Frums) is very much in this artist’s usual overstimulating electronic style, love when the piece melts starting at 3:40
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“devour/ed” (aivi) on the other hand is the darkest and glitchiest track I’ve ever heard by this artist
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