The Slow Rush - Tame Impala

It feels very difficult to try and review this album.

Tame Impala feels like less of a band and more of an enigma. Kevin Parker has managed to create music that requires many, many listens to digest and incorporate within. Even being almost two months out from the release, I still listen to the album and find new aspects to appreciate, new lyric lines that I catch and flip over. It's a record that requires attention, a commodity that has been more difficult to trade in. As of late, that has been a bit different, but these are extraordinary times.

When the album came out, I confess that I didn't listen to it as much as I thought I would have. I was in a busy season, and having the time to dedicate to listening to the album without any distractions was not something I was prioritizing. There were songs I kept coming back to that stood out, but I hadn't quite grasped the whole of the album yet. As a result, I wasn't as into the album - it was hard to grasp, like water slipping between the cracks of my fingertips. My mind was spread too thin to be able to latch on, and as a result I left it alone for a few weeks.

With everything that's been happening recently, I have been giving the album the attention it deserves. With each listen, I leave with a sense of awe and increased respect for Parker as a musician and creator. So far, my experience with Tame Impala albums has only been Currents before this one. That album showed me that these records require many, many listens. The first few times through (or the first couple dozen times through), the album feels like one long piece. Every track flows into the next, all the sounds and melodies blend with each other to create a singular experience. It requires going back again and again to begin to see each of the individual pieces. The songs begin to feel defined, to feel specific and unique. I still don't have all the song names down, but I can tell when each song ends and begins - which sounds like a weird thing to say.

One of the main things I've been trying to pin down is the feeling of the album. With Currents, now five years removed from its release, I have a pretty firm grasp of the album and the way it flows and feels. There was a grittier tone, a more alternative sound to it that was balanced with the trippy, psychedelic elements. With The Slow Rush, the immediate impression is one of more electronic influences, a sound more suitable for big arenas and festivals. There's still plenty of noticeable instruments, guitars and bass and drum-set utilized throughout. But the synths and electronic elements take a more prominent place this time around. As expected, artists progress and sounds change. This line of thought seems pretty natural considering the way that Tame Impala has blown up and headlined big shows, like Coachella, in the last few years. There's a brighter feeling to this album, more upbeat and uplifting than Currents. Songs like "Tomorrow's Dust", "Is It True", and "Breathe Deeper" (see below for more about that one) have a carefree quality to them. They inspire a relaxed state of mind, bringing a sense of peace as opposed to inspiring an emotional response. They still definitely encourage movement - all the songs have a groove thats hard to ignore.

Throughout my listens, there have been some standout songs from the beginning. As the opening track, "One More Year" sets the stage and tone for the album. A brighter tone, with more psychedelic elements at the forefront as well. It also has a looser feeling, a less rigid structure that allows for the song to go where it wants to go. "Breathe Deeper" stuck out early on due to the catchy 90's style beat that kicks the song off. I read on Spotify that Parker said the song is influenced by Mariah Carey; hence the 90's vibe. There's a definite feel-good vibe to the song, an infectious tone that makes you want to move along to the beat. It has the feeling of being a fantastic summer jam; I would imagine this will make its way onto many a playlists for the warmer weather. "It Might Be Time" was another that caught my ear, largely due to the siren sound that goes off in the chorus. It brought to mind Kill Bill, where a similar sound is used (in a quite different manner). It gave the song a bit of a grittier tone that felt very similar to Currents. I also love the contrast of the pretty, smooth sounding verse with the harder hitting chorus. If you've read any of my reviews, you know that I'm always a sucker for great contrast.

There are other songs that I enjoy, but I'll leave my specific notes there. This album feels like one that is better enjoyed as a whole, and not when picked apart and dissected as much. Each piece has its part to play in the story of the record, and I want to keep it within that context.

It's hard to have a wrap up point to this review, as I know that I am and still will be processing this album for months to come. I finally started to feel like I had a handle on Currents last year, four years after its release, so perhaps it won't be for a few years. But I do know that I will enjoy The Slow Rush - time will tell if it matches or surpasses Currents. For now, I highly recommend this album, and I cannot stress enough how important it is to sit with this album. Give it time. Your patience will be rewarded.