First things first, I am not on the Tame Impala bandwagon. There is no engrained bias going on here that prevents me from coming to my own conclusion as to the merits of this album. Nor was I believing any hype I had heard about this. I enjoyed their first album and it had some good, even great tracks. But something about it never made me feel like I HAD to listen to it at any given moment. Their second album came out and it only enhanced their popularity, nearly making them a household name, which is funny considering their name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Then the first single for this album was released what feels like months ago, and though I had sort of written them off in my mind as a band that wasn’t exactly essential (so much music, so little time), I checked it out, this album’s lead track ‘Let It Happen’, and was blown away. Instantly it felt special, and that it was part of a greater vision, so instead of playing out the track, I only listened that one time, and decided to wait for the album to be released. That time finally came and really I wasn’t expecting something THIS good. Most bands seem to write a bunch of great tracks and put them together and call it an album, which is of course, many of the greatest albums are like that. But the best albums are those that either do, or through happenstance, arrive as a complete vision, or statement. Currents is one of those rare moments. It couldn’t be more bluntly announced than with the aptly titled ‘Yes, I’m Changing’. The band’s lead architect, Kevin Parker, was clearly bored with their old sound, or felt there was only so far he could go with it. The end result is the same as before; this album is without question, at least to my ears, psych rock. But it’s psych rock done with more electronic elements instead of your usual guitar, bass, drums combination. It’s trippy as hell, but instead of making you want to rock out, it’s full of so much groove and color that whether sitting down or standing up, you’re going to find some way to dance to it. It takes you to another place. Yes, the inspiration is clear and evident. There’s disco, there’s prog rock, there’s psychedelia sprinkled all throughout this. But the way it’s combined all together – its undeniably unique. Fresh. Brilliant, really. How often is an album released where every single track is just pure pop right to its core and sticks in your head, but is unlike anything you’ve heard before. It doesn’t matter how alien the sound may be, it’s irresistible. How he – they – pulled this off I have no idea, but listen to the bass line kick in on ‘The Moment’, the Prince meets Delfonics sex jam of ‘Cause I’m A Man’, or just that insane melody in ‘Reality In Motion’. There is not a single dud on this album, one of the best, most realized albums I’ve heard in a long time. Never saw that coming – from a 11,617 miles away. Oh yeah, they’re from Perth. I was there once. It was pretty.

Label

Interscope Records