Plantoid - Flare (2026)
What FLARE gets right is momentum. The band doesn’t rely on constant complexity — it locks into grooves and lets them breathe. Guitars spiral around rhythmic patterns while Chloe Spence’s vocals float above like a dream-pop counterweight.
At its best, the album feels fluid and confident. The fusion of krautrock propulsion, math-rock guitar language, and psych atmosphere works naturally. Nothing feels forced.
But the record often prefers exploration over escalation. Ideas circulate beautifully but don’t always crystallize into a moment that feels irreversible. The grooves keep moving, yet the tension rarely spikes.
It’s inventive and cohesive.
It just stops slightly short of a breakthrough.
Pros
Strong rhythmic engine
Motorik grooves and math-rock guitar interplay create real forward motion. The band understands how to lock into a groove without sounding mechanical.
Distinct vocal atmosphere
Chloe Spence’s dreamy delivery adds contrast to the technical instrumentation, softening the angular rhythms.
Natural genre blending
Psych rock, math rock, and jazz elements integrate smoothly rather than feeling like stylistic collage.
Cons
Climaxes rarely feel decisive
Songs build and evolve but often stop short of a powerful structural payoff.
Mid-album energy plateau
The groove-focused approach can flatten intensity across consecutive tracks.
Some motifs linger without transformation
Certain riffs and rhythmic ideas circle rather than mutate, slightly reducing replay pull.
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: UK
Final Verdict: 66% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 47th / 225
Highlight: Good For You
Made me think of:
Squid
Black Midi
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
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