Plastic Perfection by Polished: A Vaporwave Odyssey That’ll Melt Your Brain (In a Good Way)
Alright, buckle up, because Plastic Perfection by Polished is the kind of album that feels like walking into a retro mall in 2099—neon lights flickering, holographic palm trees swaying, and some AI-generated cashier asking if you want fries with that. Released in 2018 via Flamingo Vapor, this US-born gem dives deep into the vaporwave abyss, blending glitchy synths, warped samples, and enough existential dread to make even your toaster question its purpose.
Let’s talk tracks, shall we? First off, there’s “Neural Transmission.” Oh man, this one’s a banger. It’s got this hypnotic beat that feels like your brain’s stuck in an infinite GIF loop—equal parts soothing and unsettling. The track builds slowly, layering sounds until you’re not sure if you’re vibing or having a mild panic attack. Either way, it’s unforgettable. I caught myself humming it while waiting for my coffee the other day, which was awkward because I think I accidentally started swaying like a malfunctioning robot.
Then there’s “Mannequin Pt. 1.” This track is basically what happens when someone feeds a department store mannequin’s dreams into a synthesizer. It’s eerie yet oddly beautiful, like staring at a broken mirror in a dimly lit room. You know something’s off, but you can’t look away. And just when you think it’s over, bam—“Mannequin Pt. 2” and “Pt. 3” show up to ruin your sense of closure. These three tracks feel like chapters in a story where nothing makes sense, but somehow it all clicks anyway.
The rest of the album follows suit, with tracks like “Buddha’s Specialty” throwing zen vibes into the chaos and “Transparency” leaving you questioning whether you’ve been living life wrong all along. Even the intro sets the tone perfectly, like the opening credits to a movie about sentient vending machines plotting world domination.
What really sticks with me about Plastic Perfection is how it balances humor and melancholy. It’s like Polished knows the whole vaporwave thing can be kinda silly—hello, chopped-and-screwed muzak—but they still manage to inject genuine emotion into every track. By the time you hit “Enlighten (Interlude),” you’re left wondering if enlightenment is actually just accepting that we’re all just machines pretending to be human.
So yeah, Plastic Perfection isn’t just another vaporwave album—it’s a wild ride through nostalgia, consumerism, and whatever the heck “Nu-symmetry” means. If you’re looking for music that’s as thought-provoking as it is toe-tapping, give this one a spin. Just don’t blame me if you start seeing mannequins in your sleep.
Final thought: If robots ever take over the world, I hope they use this album as their soundtrack. They’d probably cry oil tears or something.
