Tame Impala - Lonerism (CD, Vinyl LP)

I’ve got a massive soft spot for these lads. I was a bit late getting to the first album and I only heard it about a year or so after it came out. I saw loads of folks were going nuts for it and I had to check it out (I am occasionally a bit sheepy). I liked it! So I’ve eagerly awaited the Antipodeans’ second album to punch me in the face with its psychedelic pop tunes. And it has...

‘Lonerism’ is a brilliantly confident record full of psych-pop tunes, huge drums, flangey vocals, free bass and tasty guitar licks.  Oh, and they now have synthesizers adding a whole new dimension. They still have that Beatles vibe and that’s very apparent in ‘Apocalypse Dreams’ but if anything I can hear some ELO in there. I know that doesn’t make it sound cool in the slightest but the vocals remind of Jeff Lynne sometimes. Dave Fridmann is knob twiddling and he does an excellent job. It’s got that whole Flaming Lips giant sound so if the songs don’t get you then the sound will. It’s huge!

As far as experimental psych pop goes these guys are totally boss. ‘Be Above It’ is brilliant with its cyclical mental phasing drum beat and wobbly synths and when Parker’s distant vocals come in it’s suddenly transcended into a genius yet utterly barking pop tune. The whole album is full of experimental pop gems and psyche pop nuggets to fall head over heels in love with. Underneath the massive production are 12 awesome pop songs which you need to hear. Absolute class album!