Tame Impala has a new album. Tame Impala has a new album. Tame Impala has a new album!
When their first track, 'Cause I'm a Man', was released, my instant reaction was trepidation. I was excited that one of my favorite bands was making new work. That excitement was instantaneously eclipsed by fear that our Australian, psychedelic geniuses would not be able to outdo their 2012 brilliant, shining record 'Lonerism'. As I streamed the track, the fear subsided and I was back in 2012 - flowing and getting lost in Kevin Parker's meticulous attention to detail; casually mixing and manipulating sounds to complement his sometimes enigmatic lyrics. Except this time, despite the bloops and blorps of producing, one thing was glaringly clear.
The album cover was created by a Kentucky artist, Robert Beatty, who illustrates the impact of vortex shedding; the way an object can impact any type of flow. Kevin Parker's work has always had a distinct flow to it. 'Currents' seemingly explores the after affect of an object, a person, an event, and it's metamorphose-like impact on it's flow/current.
'Let it Happen', the first track on 'Currents', starts the album off in a bit of a strange, dark thought process. It indicates Parker's inevitable emotional revolution during the demise of a relationship.
"All this running around, trying to cover my shadow. An ocean growing inside, All the others seem shallow"
Met with low, resonating, wind instruments and notes that hit like a strong current, 'Let it Happen' takes twists and turns and end with a synth, mantra like chant that is eventually paired with Tame Impala's signature guitar licks and layering lyrics; stacking lyric upon lyrics upon lyric forcing you to find them like echoing easter eggs.
It is very evident that the album as a whole is about the transformation process of (for lack of better words) a break up. No truer is the break up transformation so bittersweet than in 'Eventually'; a song about the unavoidable heart ache when a relationship ends, but the hope of happiness in the distant future.
'Yes I'm Changing' is a track that Kevin Park simply does not remember writing or recording. Was he in a substance induced coma? Pain induced black out? Cocktail of both? It's just too bad though. I know I would want to remember any moment where I can transcend agony and boil it back to a pure form of love; love for oneself and knowing you'll have to be at peace with it.
With the broad spectrum of emotions aside, the albums terrain is vast with experiments into new realms of sound. From sexy R & B influences to touches of small dub-steps for mankind, particular pebbles are being overturned, and built upon.
Perhaps no track can compare to 'Past Life'. Where Parker could quite literally being reading from his journal while being disguised with archetypal Tame Impala sounds and a swooning chorus. One line is absurdly clear:
"I tried to say it but it never came out right"
Whether you despise quasi pop-psych-rock or not, 'Currents' is an album to continuously discover over time. I'm a month in and continue to find hidden treasures - both within the album and within my own narrative.
Dig it.
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