Tame Impala – The Slow Rush

Five years is the time between 'The Slow Rush' and stunning 2015 ‘Currents' album; which after two albums before the aforementioned led to making Kevin Parker a lyrical, sound and production powerhouse. His work influenced a multitude of artists and his production skills were heavily lauded and coveted. On album four Parker still retains his Bee Gee-esque vocals as the addition to his plethora of hip-hop, electronic, psychedelic, funk, dance and soulful melodies. This is his most popish album to date, at a running length of 57 minutes that spends more time wandering in and around through a labyrinth of synths and diffused soft-rock. It feels like one hour-long song or soundtrack that never really stops. Parker also has a unique way of making you lose yourself in a song so delicately and deeply that he then throws in a myriad of unique changes into those tracks as an anchor, makes you where you are, leading back on course after a short detour.

The name of the album is apt - a slow rush; just enjoy what happens, go with the flow and any other description that you find pertinent. There’s a meticulous nature of the obsessive with Parker and it shows here more than any other album - Parker works with a range of musicians but this is entirely his baby. His credits are printed firmly with the line “All music written, performed, and mixed by Kevin Parker.” He divides the album into almost environmental tones, with elements that sound very cityscape, some underground, and some sounding like beach summery fun. This is one of the most complex albums made, finely crafted cogs in a massive arrangement to form the entire cohesive sound. This body of work also allows Parker to stretch himself more, whether being held back creatively or the ambivalence of another album, he used that hesitation and twisted it and exposed it like a nerve. Choosing to exercising vexations; using his unease as he stated in an NME interview: “Even with this album, I was doing things that made me uncomfortable just for the purpose of being creative because I’m the most creative when I’m uncomfortable.”

The amount of focus is intrinsic to this album more than at any time before, too much and you get lost in it all, if that is your goal, too little and you wish for something more. It feels like a warm fireplace that radiates heat and light but also snaps and crackles and makes unusual noises that arrest your eyes and ears. In so far as being music for moods it’s right up there as one of the best, this is Pop and Psychedelic genre twisting sorcery to its finest.

Absoultely amazing sounding pressing, like all of Tame Impala's other albums. Can't wait to see him live in Sydney this week!

Although the sound has not dramatically progressed from 2010’s Innerspeaker, Tame Impala’s most recent album is a satisfying summation of everything they’ve done so far. Predicated on a conflict between its anxiety-ridden lyrics and blissed-out production, the album is buoyed by infectious hooks that demand to be listened to over and over.

This the best thing since Lonerism! Its very ecclectic and has undertones of Todd Rundgren and Utopia in some of the tracks. Instant Destiny is the standout for me . I would call it" Psychomelodic" If thats anew term Tame Impala can adopt it! 4.5/5

A lovely, whisper-quiet pressing of a wonderful album. Dreamy bliss. I agree with the comment that psychedelic rock isn't a good descriptor for this. It's far closer to dream pop than anything else.

Each track directly correlates with its respective calendar month, in order

I must have a defective, I think I got the next batch in this mass produced "exclusive" because it cracks and pops every 30 seconds.

Got my CD copy with ticket purchase to his tour, comes with nice thick booklet that is not included with the vinyl. Good to own one color vinyl and a CD copy too.

Beautiful album and a great pressing. Very quiet and a fine vinyl mastering.

What a excelent press :D zero jumps, pops, cracks, etc... nice mastering