Taking inspiration from Beyoncé, as everyone does, Kid Cudi announced his album release two hours before it went live on iTunes at midnight Feb. 25. Originally planned as an EP linking his last release, “Indicud,” and his next album “Man on the Moon III,” the full-length release shows Cudi revisiting his old style from the first two releases of the “Man on the Moon” series. Introspective and melancholic as ever, “KiD CuDi presents Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon” pleases listeners with its story telling and thoughtful compilation.

The heavy layering of drums and robotic electronic style synths make for tracks reminiscent of a sci-fi film – an effect that was certainly intentional. With more solely instrumental tracks than the typical Cudi album, the rapper invites his listeners to do some of their own thinking between lyrical tracks. The 10 tracks on “Satellite Flight” are calm and almost trance-inducing, captivating the listener with their hypnotic hooks.

On “Balmain Jeans,” Cudi delves into his romantic side. As entrancing as it is explicit, Cudi and featured artist Raphael Saadiq complement each other with their exchange of sweet, haunting and honest lyrics. “It’s been such a hobby, finding someone who electrifies my body,” Cudi sings. Both singers express the innate human desire to be loved, something we can all relate to.

A futuristic quality marks many of the tracks here, such as “Too Bad I Have To Destroy You Now,” “Copernicus Landing” and “In My Dreams 2015,” an update on “In My Dreams” from his debut album. With the help of outer-space-inspired electronic effects, these songs find Cudi transported to a new world and leading his own exploration. Even his instrumental tracks take listeners on a journey, building tension and strategically connecting songs.

“Too Bad I Have To Destroy You Now” stands out with its emotional connections to his loved ones, continuing the story of himself as a burdening responsibility to them, as told on his first two discs. His lyrics on this track reflect his classic “outsider” view, laying down lyrics like “When I walk in the room they can’t look in my eyes,” which tugs at the inner loner in all of us while going back to the singer’s long-standing theme of embracing alienation.

“Satellite Flight” continues the trend of Cudi using instrumentals to piece together his work, as he first experimented with on “Indicud.” At first glance they seem like useless fillers to take up space, but a few listens later, the album feels incomplete without them. With five in total, they appear interspersed and layered with dark, staccato beats and engrossing synths that build tension between the tracks that feature vocals.

Songs like “Internal Bleeding” and “Destination: Mother Moon” both have fuzzy qualities, implying that Cudi is lost trying to find himself – another common theme across his discography. While the album doesn’t try too many new things, it’s served its purpose of riling up fans as they anxiously await the release of “Man on the Moon III.”

Elena Lopez can be reached at [email protected].