Klüg - Turbulence (Flow)

Klüg

​Turbulence (Flow)
self-released; 2017

​3.6 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Klüg is a solo artist from Michigan who recently released a twelve-song album entitled Turbulence (Flow). His music lies somewhere between Thom Yorke’s solo material and an electronic act like Boards of Canada.

​The production is pretty solid throughout although I think there are some improvements that I think could happen in the vocal department. Musically, the album is dark and gives off a cosmic theme from everything from the title, lyrics and moods that are painted with the synths.

The album starts with “Spiraling (Absent Minded)” which is more or less an intro to “Perpendicular Bisector (Closer Than Ever).” “Perpendicular Bisector (Closer Than Ever” doesn’t have too many notable hooks but relies on a good amount of dissonance and music that sounds like you are traveling down a musical blackhole. He sings, “Maybe I don't want / To forget / We can't let this shatter / What kind of silly pretending is this?”

He sings falsetto and often slightly off key on “Distance Inevitable (Just a Ploy)” which certainly has shades of Thom Yorke’s solo material from the effects to the blips and blings. A clear highlight was the instrumental track “Sky (Upward Gazing).” It’s a subdued ambient piece that reminded me of the electronic artist The Field. I was trying to figure out what was what in this song and in the meanwhile I enjoyed the transitions he had throughout. 

“Glass Floor (Don't Look Down)” is another successful instrumental piece with a very different feel. The title of the song sounds like the song itself. Klüg centers the song around the movements of a glass sounding tone that finds itself in times of motion and stillness. The song unwraps in a unique way.

“Revolver (Where Did It Go?)” is much more ominous and full of apprehension as if you were having an impending trial with a cosmic destroyer of many worlds while “Spinning (Endlessly)” does give you a sense of vertigo. The centerpiece is “Epitome (Reality of Infinity)” which is an eleven-plus-minute song. To put it best it feels like you are taking a tour through a huge alien spacecraft. 

Turbulence (Flow) might not be everyday listening but I felt like it had a time and place. Overall, the album has some missteps but is still unique and enjoyable in its own way.

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