Heard It Here First

Los Angeles-based FLY proves yet again why he’s one of the most versatile producers in bass music. He creates incredibly lush and complex textures for listeners’ ears and minds to wander and can deliver thumping, gut-punching bass. Lucid Dream, out now on Of The Trees‘ label Memory Palace, focuses more on soft, often organic sounds and sonic worldbuilding. Memory Palace is a perfect home for this EP, as Of The Trees is also known for curating a similar sound.

Listening to Lucid Dream is like floating above the clouds or through a forest. The soft background FX seem to all blend together, coalescing in a beautifully complex soundscape.

“Blink” with Player Dave is a slow, methodical tone-setter for the EP, as faint vocal samples and soothing strings cause the listeners’ own introspection. “Synesthesia” offers a trappier beat and deeper bass stabs but retains the use of soft pads and organic instrument samples. The EP’s eponymous lead single is more progressive, utilizing similar melodic topline FX with heavier reliance on deep, distorted basses, juxtaposing the relatively tame nature of the beginning of the EP. “Tipping Point” builds tension before giving way to a two-step beat. “Nostalgia” harkens back to motifs present throughout the EP, a perfect conclusion for this record.

Lucid Dream stands out in FLY’s discography as distinguished and cohesive. It’s the most comprehensive work the up-and-comer has put out. The EP feels like a natural follow-up to FLY’s 2022 release, “Deja Vu,” which explored similar themes and soundscapes.

You can catch FLY at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater on May 4th, going b2b with Sumthin Sumthin. He will also be going b2b with Saka on Boogie T‘s 140 Warriors tour this spring. That b2b will also support G Jones at The Caverns in Tennessee this summer and even make an appearance at Hard Summer later this year.

What did you think of FLY’s new EP? Let us know your favorite track in the comments or on social media!

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