Dig the Untamed Psychedelic Sounds of Tame Impala

A chance subway encounter with friend and fellow copywriter / music lover Josh Fleitas has led to Rock Turtleneck's latest musical obsession: Tame Impala. This Australian band, described by some as the "psychedelic project of guitarist/songwriter Kevin Parker" (I think he's the one on the right above) has been making waves for a couple of years, but somehow the RT radar didn't pick up on it until last week and we've never looked back. 


Their sophomore record Lonerism has already shot up to the upper echelons of RT's best of 2012 list. They recall Elliot Smith, Badly Drawn Boy's first record, and above all, Ram-era Paul McCartney, particularly on their single "Elephant," which also has a soupcon of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky."

On their website, Tame Impala describe their music thusly: 

"Tame Impala make psychedelic hypno-groove melodic rock music. It's intended for moving one's body to, and it's intended for keeping still and observing other forms of movement. It's bombastic but it's swirling, think of the shoulder bones of a giant striding feline creature through some kind of tunnel. If Tame Impala's music reminds you of what you'd want to put on when you next visit your mind's engine room then they're happy. If not, whatever, it's just music. Put it on when the sun next shines. Basically it's all about the feeling."

Sounds good to me. Here's a dreamy gem from Lonerism called "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" that recalls another McCartney-related project, The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.



Lonerism is a trippy, melodic delight from down under, from beginning to end, and a surefire way you through the doldrums of winter.

Buy Lonerism by Tame Impala on iTunes here.