Palaces (album) explained

Palaces
Type:	studio
Cover:	Flume - Palaces.png
Artist:	Flume
Genre:	Electronic
Length:	46:15
Label:	Future Classic
Prev Title:	Quits
Prev Year:	2019
Next Title:	Things Don't Always Go the Way You Plan
Next Year:	2023

Palaces is the third studio album by Australian electronic musician Flume, released on 20 May 2022 through Future Classic. It includes collaborations with Oklou, May-a, Quiet Bison, Kučka, Laurel, Virgen María, Emma Louise, Caroline Polachek and Damon Albarn. The album was announced alongside the release of lead single "Say Nothing", featuring May-a.^[1]

At the 2022 ARIA Music Awards, the album earned Flume a nomination for Best Solo Artist and was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Release, Best Cover Art, Best Produced Album and Best Mixed Album.^[2]

The album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year at the 2022 J Awards.^[3]

Background and recording

After returning to Australia following the end of his world tour in support of Skin (2016) and Hi This Is Flume (2019), Flume moved to a coastal town in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, where he says he found "inspiration from the flora and fauna surrounding him". He also made field recordings of birds, which are used throughout the album.^[4] According to Flume, the album was also influenced by late Scottish producer Sophie.^[5]

Release and promotion

Flume announced the album and its track listing on 2 February 2022, also releasing the song "Say Nothing" featuring May-a as the album's lead single and its music video the same day. The video contains similar visuals to those Flume uploaded on his NFT website throughout 2021.^[6] Flume said the track is about "feelings of post relationship clarity" and was written "midway through 2020 while the pandemic was still pretty new", although it was finished in early 2021.^[7] "Sirens" featuring American singer Caroline Polachek, was released as the second single on 30 March 2022.^[8] "Escape", co-produced by Quiet Bison and featuring Australian singer Kučka, and "Palaces" featuring British singer Damon Albarn, were released as a double single on 24 April 2022.^[9] "Hollow" featuring Australian singer Emma Louise was released on 18 May 2022 as the fourth single.

Critical reception

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 72, based on 6 reviews.

Track listing

All tracks produced by Flume, except where noted.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Flume Announces New Album Palaces, Shares Video for New Song Featuring May-A: Watch. Pitchfork. Minsker. Evan. 2 February 2022. 3 February 2022.
2. Web site: Rüfüs Du Sol Leads 2022 ARIA Awards Nominees (Full List). The Music Network. 12 October 2022. 12 October 2022. Lars Brandle.
3. Web site: Here's all the J Awards 2022 nominees!. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 November 2022. 3 November 2022 .
4. Web site: Flume Announces New Album 'Palaces', Shares MAY-A Collab. Music Feeds. Gallagher. Alex. 3 February 2022. 3 February 2022.
5. Web site: Flume on "nervous" stint working with Damon Albarn and how SOPHIE helped him make new album. NME. Krol. Charlotte. 17 May 2022. 18 May 2022.
6. Web site: Flume introduces new LP, 'Palaces' with lead single, 'Say Nothing' featuring MAY-A and full tracklist. Dancing Astronaut. Weisband. Sami. 2 February 2022. 3 February 2022.
7. Flume Announces First New Album Since 2016, 'Palaces'. Rolling Stone. Jenke. Tyler. 3 February 2022. 3 February 2022.
8. Web site: Listen to Flume's Haunting New Single "Sirens" From Upcoming Third Album. EDM.com. Heffler. Jason. 30 March 2022. 22 May 2022.
9. Web site: Flume Drops Two Mind-Bending Singles From Forthcoming Third Album, "Palaces": Listen. EDM.com. Sunkel. Cameron. 26 April 2022. 22 May 2022.