It’s been a long five years that have mostly been consumed by Brexit and horrible politics, but as we step into a new decade, the light at the end of the dark and miserable tunnel is finally visible, a new Tame Impala album. So, to all the Kevin Parker enthusiasts out there, take ‘Currents’ off the turntable and strap in, ‘The Slow Rush’ has arrived.
Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and musical mastermind Kevin Parker has made his way into the hearts of many over the past decade in the form of Tame Impala. His head nodding guitar hooks and dreamy basslines capture the world of psychedelia in the most enchanting of ways, something even the most finicky of listeners couldn’t turn their noses up at. His eclectic discography has given Parker the freedom to work with musical legends such as Mark Ronson, Travis Scott and Kayne West, consequently earning him a headline slot at one of the most prodigious festivals, Coachella last year.
The birth of ‘Currents’ in 2015 took us down a path of loneliness and self-isolation in a way we could never imagine. Summer anthem, ‘The Less I Know The Better’ left us all hating an adulterer called Trevor who assumedly stole Kevin Parker’s missus, whereas power ballad, ‘Yes I’m Changing’ saw us passionately singing into a hairbrush over a breakup we hasn’t actually experienced. So as established, LP number three was perhaps an ode to romanticism, but now at 34 years old, an older and wiser Parker dwells on time; the past, present and future, as he creates a 57 minute long masterpiece which still remains to send shivers up spines and get bodies moving to dancefloors across the world.
A five year wait for an album is gut wrenchingly painful when all you want is new music from your favourite artist, however you can’t help but be forgiving to one-man band Kevin Parker. As painful as it’s been, Parker’s tinkering has paid off, ‘The Slow Rush’ is an incredibly complex monument which encapsulates beautifully fulfilling nostalgia. The album opens synth heavy with a dreamy continual bassline, an immediate indication that you’re listening to Tame Impala. ‘One More Year’, a track which dwells on lost time through wishing away the days and the anxiety that comes along with doing so.
‘The Slow Rush’ definitely stays true to our Tame Impala expectations, ‘Tomorrow’s Dust’ expels acoustic woozy vibes which were made to be listened to at 7pm on a summer evening. Whereas, ‘Breathe Deeper’ and ‘Is It True’ do the opposite and send out signals which make you want to throw glitter over yourself and head to the nearest nightclub. And of course, to maintain the grand narrative of ‘time’, ‘Lost In Yesterday’ is a tune with the funkiest bassline of 2020 to date, the infectious groove of this song gets lost in nostalgic thoughts which mimic essences of groundhog day.
The thought process behind this album really is admirable, Parker manages to create a concept album through his slick journey from beginning to end, as he ends the album with ‘One More Hour’ a haunting robotic keys piece which is interjected with a raw and compelling guitar riff, something which could easily be a Zeppelin track. It illuminates a final realisation of the passing of time, as Parker’s mournful echo’s chant “As long as I can, spend some time alone”, it’s his rawest piece yet, as he managed to combine intense apocalyptic, drums, guitar and bass alongside his angelic purposeful vocals. A concept which sounds bizarre, but perfectionist Kevin Parker got it so right, chaos in the finest form.
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