I’s amazing to follow the rise of Kevin Parker and Tame Impala 10 years on from Innerspeaker. From early indie focused days to the psychedelic disco sheen of Currents and The Slow Rush, the constant changes in sonic direction have made Tame Impala a curious but nonetheless exciting figure on the indie scene.
10 years on, Innerspeaker really laid the platform for what was to follow. Remaining a great record, Parker continues to incorporate tracks into live sets, including opener ‘It’s Not Meant to Be’. For my money, ‘Solitude is Bliss’ remains one of the best tracks that Parker has done across his 4 albums. There is rarely a misstep and it’s a shame that it took until Currents for him to become a household name.
2012’s Lonerism is a fan favourite. It acts almost as a bridge between the indie focused sound of the debut and what was to follow. It’s one of the finest modern indie records, with evocative psychedelic rock transporting past sounds while blazing forwards. Particular highlights include ‘Apocalypse Dreams’, ‘Mind Mischief’ and ‘Music To Walk Home By’. Meanwhile, ‘Elephant’ and ‘Feels Like We Only Go Backwards’ have become two of Parker’s biggest hits to date.
2015’s Currents really sent both Tame Impala’s sound and popularity into the stratosphere, earning slots at festivals across the globe and a legion of fans. It’s an immaculate record and worlds away from their debut. ‘Let It Happen’, ‘The Less I Know The Better’ and ‘The Moment’ sound huge live and at indie discos. The change in direction benefits Parker’s live setlist ensuring there is constant variety on display and gives a clear glimpse at his unique sound.
The Slow Rush from February of this year has proved to be another fan and critical favourite, earning strong reviews, perhaps in the same league as Currents. Despite being perhaps the poppiest sounding record put out by Parker to date, it’s not a bad thing. It opens with ‘One More Year’, which really sets the tone by shunning guitars in favour of synths. Particular favourites of mine include ‘It Might Be Time’ and ‘Tomorrow’s Dust’.
Parker’s evolution has been a joy to behold for listeners, and it will be fascinating to follow his journey further. On LP5, he shows no signs of slowing down or audience interest levels waning. From this, Parker is more than likely to continue to become a key figure within the modern indie landscape.