Album Review: Kyle Ekstrom - 'Florescence'

Debut artist Kyle Ekstrom makes quite an entrance with his multi-genre electro-atmospheric first album Florescence.

Kyle Ekstrom has been experimenting with multiple genres since 2018 when he made his entrance into the scene with his impassioned, stripped-back EP, Young Blood. Colorfully blending alternative rock, indie rock, and post-hardcore genres in a lively and atmospheric way, his debut album Florescence travels through each track experience with powerful guitars, ambient soundscapes, and unforgettable hooks.

"Easing the listener in with a celestial electric soundscape, denuded guitars, and thoughtful lyricism, "Bleach" moves into a grimier textured experience, "Haunt." Gradually transcending into an artfully crafted electro indie-alternative dream, Eckstrom shows advanced skill in delivering a vibrant instrumental adventure within Florescence, where you are not quite sure what you will hear next, but that's the fun part about it. "

Starting with the first moment, "Storywriter," Kyle Ekstrom proves his talent for traveling instrumentally through a musical experience right off the bat. With a polished delivery of sunny electronic synths and bombastic guitars, "Storywriter" kicks things off in just the right way for what's to come on the rest of the album.

Another sun-drenched moment on the album is "Sunshine," featuring Rom. With gorgeous rhythm guitars intertwining with syncopated percussive cadence, it keeps the album moving for the best moments on the album, "Bleach" and "Haunt."

Easing the listener in with a celestial electric soundscape, denuded guitars, and thoughtful lyricism, "Bleach" moves into a grimier textured experience, "Haunt." Gradually transcending into an artfully crafted electro indie-alternative dream, Eckstrom shows advanced skill in delivering a vibrant instrumental adventure within Florescence, where you are not quite sure what you will hear next, but that's the fun part about it.

The album beautifully ends with an acoustic, full-bodied, atmospheric track, "In The Name of Art." It is here where Ekstrom's talents are brightest, and his vulnerability is at its highest. Immersive and lyrically unfeigned, the album closes on a solid note.

Florescence is a great collection of multi-genre experiences that is very self-aware of the idea of traveling and telling a story through a song through the use of sound, and Ekstrom does this well. For a debut effort, Florescence opens many doors for the new artist to branch out and a confident future within the scene.