On Feb. 14, Kevin Parker’s fourth studio album “The Slow Rush” delivered the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift: 12 beautifully composed songs full of rich rhythms and hallucinatory sounds. Parker, a multi-talented Australian singer, is widely known for his psychedelic music project, Tame Impala. The story behind Tame Impala is quite simple; Parker connects the name of the African animal to the “brief, unspoken moment but with some level of communication between yourself and this wild animal.” Derived from the “unspoken communication,” Tame Impala hopes to convey the wild and free nature through their music.
First achieving worldwide fame with his third album, “Currents,” Parker had fans eagerly awaiting his next album for over five years. As Tame Impala continued to attract more audiences, the indie rock band toured many times and received international recognition for their music. The group formed over a decade ago when they began adjusting sounds and pairing voices with electric tracks, perfecting the psychedelic tunes they are known for today.
Giving many fans reminiscent rhythms of the past, Tame Impala seeks to send fans into a trance by combining disco tunes from the sixties with smooth melodies. Parker’s lyrics offer insightful odes to past songs and allow listeners to get lost in groovy tunes that conceal his inner thoughts about love, faith and forgiveness. His futuristic first song, “Once More Year,” is filled with polished, electric rhythms and the steady sound of the bass drum, forming a consistent beat throughout. The song further hints at Parker’s ceaseless outlook on the future: “Cause what we did, one day on a whim, will slowly become all we do.”
This is followed by “Instant Destiny,” a very personal tribute to his wife, Sophie, whom he excitedly remarks on how “no destiny is too far” for them to get married. The consistent rhythms of the bass drum combined with the sporadic, electric guitar notes further emulate Parker’s own emotions in his love life with Sophie, his commitment to their marriage as “destiny” and the spontaneity experienced in marriage.
“Giving fans reminiscent rhythms of the past, Tame Impala seeks to send fans into a trance”
“Posthumous Forgiveness” strays away from the computerized and abstract theme of the album to provide a heartfelt and emotional piece for Parker’s father, who passed away from skin cancer in 2009. Parker’s father has majorly influenced his work, in writing such as “Playing his guitar / While he’s dying of cancer / Oh my father.” The song begins similarly to the others, but has a slower, more melancholy tune and heavy bass beats. His voice is more pronounced as the lyrics and vocal range are notable amidst the muted electric rhythms. The last few minutes transition into simpler, dream-like chords with Parker’s soothing voice. Due to his father’s sudden passing towards the beginning of Tame Impala’s career, Parker missed out on celebrating his success with his late father. “I wanna tell you ‘bout the time / Wanna tell you ‘bout my life / Wanna play you all my songs,” emphasizes the young artist’s pain and regret as he attempts to tell his father all the things he wishes they had done together when he was alive.
Parker’s other songs share the same carefully crafted chords and funky textures, appealing to millennials and members of Gen X with its nostalgic reminders of adolescence. With Parker’s attention to detail and devotion to his music, it is no surprise that artists like Kanye, Travis Scott and Rihanna have worked with him. Playing for Coachella and embarking on their 2020 worldwide tour, Tame Impala continues to rise up in the music world as their alluring rhythms and heartfelt lyrics capture the souls of people everywhere. The Slow Rush proves yet again why Parker is so deserving of fame and success; the accumulation of musical influences throughout the decade tied with catchy beats and moody accents creates an otherworldly experience allowing fans to “dream alive for now.”
