Palaces

Palaces marks Harley Streten's third studio effort, representing a homecoming both geographically and creatively. After the sprawling experimentation of the 'Hi This Is Flume' mixtape, this album attempts to bridge his avant-garde tendencies with the polished pop sensibilities of 'Skin'. Recorded in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, the album is famously infused with the sounds of local fauna, a direct result of Flume's desire to reconnect with nature during the global hiatus. The record features a diverse roster of collaborators, ranging from art-pop icons like Caroline Polachek to the legendary Damon Albarn, each pushed into Flume's idiosyncratic sonic world. Critics noted the influence of the late producer SOPHIE, particularly in the metallic, tactile quality of the percussion. While it retains the 'future bass' DNA that made him a global star, Palaces is significantly more textural and conceptually driven, centered around a narrative of environmental reclamation against digital overstimulation.