Tame Impala’s first two records, Innerspeaker and Lonerism, were inherently wound up in introversion. In the paradoxical conflict on the former’s ‘Desire Be Desire Go’ and the universal fear of change on the latter’s ‘Apocalypse Dreams’, Kevin Parker translated the existential woes that many suffer through hazy, psychedelic rock. Despite the records’ sprawling melodies, they often felt humid, claustrophobic and full-to-bursting with raucous pressure – as introverted as the subject matters that each song wrestled with.
On his curveball third record Parker is a changed man – if a song titled ‘Yes I’m Changing’ didn’t make it obvious. Currents is all about going with the flow and living in the moment. On ‘The Moment’, a skipping whirlpool of backfiring beats and hypnotic reverb, Parker tells another he “fell in love with the sound of my heels on the wooden floor”, embracing spontaneity and ridding himself of forethought. Currents’ eight-minute opener ‘Let It Happen’ is equally as honest, acknowledging the inner voice telling him to, well, “let it happen”. There’s still a sense of doubt on the closer ‘New Person, Same Old Mistakes’ – frank and introspective, Parker muses on whether he’s “gone too far” with his renewed outlook – light restraint in their newfound territory.
Sonically, it’s just as extroverted. Gone is the thickening roar of the guitar that catapulted the Australian psych-rockers close to headliner status, instead replaced by confident, nostalgic synth-pop that packs a different kind of punch. Consequently, their songs are direct and undeniably catchy. ‘Disciples’ is a sub-two minute delight of things left unsaid, with a filter-drop midway through that brings the song out from its rough demo aesthetic to crystal-clear clarity. ‘The Less I Know The Better’ swoons like a Michael Jackson classic, and ‘Cause I’m A Man’ is a slow jam with the leaden bassline to match. Currents is a considerable departure from Lonerism, but it’s still riddled with that nostalgic feeling which saw Tame Impala strike a chord with so many.
Tame Impala’s Currents is an extremely satisfying record that doesn’t suffer from burnout. In reality, it’s quite the opposite, pulsating with vigour and unashamedly vibrant.
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