Tame Impala – Lonerism Modular MODCD157 (2012)
So it’s quite easy to spot the references points to know where Tame Impala is coming from. Right away this music screams out its adulation for 1960s psychedelic rock. The lead singer could well pass for a John Lennon impersonator, and the weirder stuff of Magical Mystery Tour makes a decent reference point. Yet Animal Collective seems like an equal influence. What you end up with is something on the spectrum of post-psychedelic bands like Spacemen 3, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Ty Segall and White Denim with a strong sense of melody and composition. Ultimately it’s the good craftsmanship and solid songwriting that carry this along. It may be a recombination of retro-isms, but the band’s enthusiasm makes it always a fun and fresh experience.