Crossfade Reviews: Porter Robinson "Nurture"

 by Karl W.

Porter Robinson "Nurture"

[Mom + Pop]

Electronica

    It has been seven years since Porter Robinson's debut album. Due to creative burnout, self-doubt, and depression, Porter Robinson was struggling to get anything out within that time. It's a completely understandable issue that comes with trying to push yourself and your mental state to get something out that's even workable, and it's something that I can even relate to. Thankfully, Porter got to prioritize his mental well being and get something out of it; releasing a handful of teaser tracks throughout 2020 with the album coming out in full this year. So after a long time of working through your demons, how did this album turn out?

    Well, pretty spectacular, to be honest. Porter Robinson excels in his airy, inspiring, and transfixing electronica music and it has only been improving as time goes on. Porter experiments with different synth tones, vocal mixing and effects, and even mixing tones and sounds on different songs to make each song sound euphoric. "Musician" is a great example of this, blending different samples just in the background as the lyrics and pop-flavored synths glide through the foreground with such relative ease. "Wind Tempos" adds to the creative influence on this background, a quasi-instrumental piece with choppy piano blending into a gorgeous piano number mixed with digital vocals that warp and change as the track goes along. Each track has this type of eclectic, but genuinely charming and beautiful production and sound. The album itself explores most of Porter's trouble with creating something new, and his own insecurities that he wishes to push through, as well as finding comfort from his family and his girlfriend on tracks like "Mother" or "Blossom". It admittedly gets a bit cloying at points, but it is still grounded overall and relatable for those who have experienced creative burnout in their life. At the end of the day, "Nurture" is ethereal, comforting, and beautiful electronica music that will uplift your spirits. Porter Robinson found a way to get his creative kick back and make some of the best music of his career here, and I only hope he finds solace in that.

Best Songs: "Look At The Sky", "Musician", "Mother", "Something Comforting", "Blossom", "Unfold" 

Worst Song: "dullshythe"

8/10 (Great)