[junkie-dropcap]A[/junkie-dropcap] few years back, Baauer released the instrumental heard ’round the world. “Harlem Shake” became one of the biggest viral memes of all-time back in 2012. Four years later, his debut album arrived. Similarly, four years more, and here we are. The London-raised beatsmith’s sophomore LP continues to showcase his mainstream versatility. However, unlike its predecessor, PLANET’S MAD sees Baauer soaring on his own two wings — for the most part, that is. A sole guest appears during this album’s sub 40-minute runtime. Bipolar Sunshine indeed shines bright on “HOME,” a late highlight in the tracklist here. Despite a lack of vocal diversity, I enjoy hearing what super producers cook up when left to their own devices. Pressure from a vocalist’s camp, label or simply their reputation restrict a producer’s creativity at times. On PLANET’S MAD, no extracurricular nonsense muddies these vibrant and hard-hitting soundscapes, which is refreshing.
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To kick things off, Baauer invites listeners to take that first step. “PLANCK” emits a sense of both discovery and the unknown. Deep, resonate synths and subtle watery background sounds make for an intriguing album opener. Fluid chants and sinister bass combine for a colorful presentation. Additionally, it pairs well with the album’s first banger, its title track. The hype guitar loop and rumbling kick drums remind me of something Run the Jewels would spit over. This comparison kept me engaged throughout, leaving me eager for more music. Moving down the line, “MAGIC” succeeds the title track in solid fashion. Although this particular track is nothing to lose one’s shit over, it maintains the record’s momentum enough not to warrant a skip. Nevertheless, “MAGIC” comes off more like the title track’s half-brother than its equal peer. “YEHOO,” conversely, is a track I couldn’t help but like.
The jungle swing Baauer introduces into the tracklist shakes things up at just the right time. Also, I cannot remove this from my mind, so I must share. This song, without a doubt, is the type of track Donkey Kong showed Mario the first time they smoked together. As that visual continued to rush through my mind, a permanent grin surfaced. “YEHOO” might not be for everyone. Yet its fun atmosphere sparked my imagination. So, for that, I appreciate its inclusion on the album. The subsequent track “REACHUPDONTSTOP” underwhelmed at first. Following multiple listens, the track’s third act salvaged an otherwise cumbersome dance track. Still, I find myself wanting to skip it more often than not. But the intensity picks right back up with “HOT 44,” one of PLANET’S MAD’s best overall tracks. While perpetuating the album’s alien-like aesthetic, “HOT 44” fuses EDM and hip-hop deliciously.
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However, the next track, “AETHER” feels hyper generic. Perhaps this is the Flume fan in me talking, but this song in specific brings little to the table in terms of originality. Expansive bass hits, flurries of percussion, and touch of baby voice create a hurricane of purposelessness. The whole time “AETHER” seems desperate to reach a certain destination, or fulfill a specific role in the tracklist, yet accomplishes nothing more than a fleeting headache. All in all, it could be much worse, of course. It earns a guaranteed skip from me nonetheless. “COOL ONE SEVEN ONE” and “REMINA” I enjoy, though. The former keeps the party going while the latter chills listeners out before “HOME’s” cheery keys cut on. As an artistic statement, PLANET’S MAD proves Baauer a thoughtful and creative producer. His sonic storyline has its bumps along the way, yet ultimately adds to an already promising career.
