Tame Impala

Australia’s Tame Impala has spent the last several years crafting their sound which is steeped in glam rock and psychedelica. The band’s 2010 debut Innerspeaker and 2012’s great follow-up, Lonerism, established singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker and his cohorts as an intriguing act on the rise.

On Tame Impala's latest album Currents, Parker and the band take that sound to a whole new level that finds them in “album of the year” conversations. This is not simple hype. This record really is that good. Parker, who drives Tame Impala, comes across as a bit of a mad genius on Currents, creating a collection of songs that feel like they were born rather than written.

“I know what I’ve got to do and it’s got to be soon," he sings on “Eventually,” one of the many standouts on Currents. It’s a somewhat ironic line for an artist who lets his songs breathe and go beyond the verse-chorus-verse model. The best example of Parker's deft writing is the album’s incredible opening track, “Let It Happen,” which sets a clear tone over the course of a brilliant seven-plus minutes.

Many of the album’s songs are filled with crisp melodies under electronic beats with elements that illuminate them. The sparkle and shine brightens the listen that, by the way, is best had on headphones. “Cause I’m a Man” is the band’s equivalent of a slow jam as Parker honestly (and accurately) sings, “'Cause I’m a man, woman, don’t always think before I do.” It is lyrics like that, coupled with his ear as a producer and arranger, that cement him as one of the most exciting and well-rounded artists on the scene.

Parker has been been very hands on as a producer for the band’s previous releases, and this time, he also takes over the mixing from Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev). Perhaps it is that change that allows more of Parker's little nuances to flow more freely throughout the album. Vocally, the singer seems to be more present here and while much of the focus on the album is centered around the feel and vibe of the songs, there’s a touch of sweetness, too. There’s also a bit of vulnerability to match the subtle intensity of the material.

At this stage of Tame Impala's career, it is obviously unknown if this is the defining moment for the band, but Currents is clearly is their strongest work to date. Parker is operating on the highest of creative levels, solidifying his status as one of the most creative forces in music. Quite simply, this is a crazy good record that is one of the musical highlights of 2015 so far.