Mentalized

Sydney producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Russell Fitzgibbon continues his signature combination of heady mantras and anxious lyrical themes on his second album as Skeleten. After crafting textured dance music around dystopian visions on 2023’s *Under Utopia*, Fitzgibbon only adds more layers and ideas to his follow-up. Inspired by the concept of mass mind control, *Mentalized* sees Fitzgibbon sharpen his knack for dreamy repetition on “Love Enemy” and the “Deep Scene,” the latter bolstered by a backing chorus to striking effect. Sonic surprises await around nearly every corner: “Bodys Chorus” punctuates its otherwise chill flow with gnashing guitar while gradually plucking new motifs out of thin air, and “Viagra” crafts an unexpectedly clubby refrain around the titular drug. Fitzgibbon draws from across several eras and subgenres of electronic music—from house to big beat to New Age—and adds enough live instrumentation to keep these tracks diverse and dynamic. For someone who was once best known as half of the instrumental production duo Fishing, Fitzgibbon is steadily developing a unique voice as both a lyricist and arranger.