CD of The Week

It's hard to speak about great Australian music or psychedelic rock over the past five years without mentioning Tame Impala. Setting the bar high in quality and originality for his country and genre, Kevin Parker crafted the latest album Currents as he has the two before: nearly entirely on his own. While Parker's depth and precision in sonic manipulation have not lessened in any way, they have certainly taken on new life in a total divergence from the previous albums, 2010's Innerspeaker and 2012's Lonerism. In fact, a theme of departure permeates the entire record. Parker leaves guitars for synths, psychedelic rock for genre-melding pop, a committed relationship for a return to deeper isolation, and, ultimately, continuing with more of the same for a whole new challenge of his impressive musicianship.

The album's opener, "Let It Happen" blisters in dance beats and booming bass for a nearly 8-minute groove that swerves in and out of sync with itself. Steadfast bass lines are really a cornerstone of the album as a whole; locking down "New Person, Same Old Mistakes" in warped tones and heating up the melody of "The Less I Know The Better" with disco flair. "Yes I'm Changing" is a slower highlight that encapsulates the odd feelings of being the one breaking off a relationship in lighthearted, soaring falsetto. Later on, "Love Paranoia" takes a similar tempo but fills the spaces between the verses with R&B beats and a choir of synths. The most tangible and yet dense tune of the bunch, "Eventually" boldly voices the very break up itself in hopeful tones and billowing grandeur. As it crescendos from faintly echoing chimes to an immaculately layered wall of sound in the chorus, it encapsulates the statement made by the entire album in one fell swoop.

Currents takes its time in finding a balance without ever leaving a note out of place. A truly psychedelic flow is present in every carefully-tweaked second of this collection. But so are multiple pointed uses of the word "bullshit." While Parker's vocal resemblance to John Lennon remains as strong as ever, change is sought, conquered, and accepted in all other forms of sound and lyrics. Former fans and new fans alike will be able to get to know and love Tame Impala in its newest form through several deep listens of Currents. See Tame Impala at the Tower Theateron October 5th.