Polymer

Released in 2019 on Warp Records, Polymer is the tenth studio album by the legendary electronic duo Plaid (Ed Handley and Andy Turner). The album was conceptually inspired by the themes of polyphony, pollution, and polymers - reflecting on the dual nature of synthetic materials as both essential to modern life and destructive to the environment. Sonically, it marks a shift toward a more aggressive and 'crunchy' sound compared to the lush, pastoral feel of its predecessor, The Digging Remedy. Critics, including those at AllMusic, noted the album's increased intensity and its successful integration of darker, industrial-leaning textures into their established melodic IDM framework. The record was praised for its technical complexity, particularly the use of polyrhythms and unconventional time signatures that remain danceable yet intellectually stimulating. It stands as a late-career highlight that proves the duo's continued relevance in a genre they helped define.