Tame Impala, Innerspeaker [Modular, 2010]
Tame Impala are an Aussie three piece making psychedelic indie rock that's strangely accessible. Maybe it's the Beatles-esque vocals or the occasional hip-hop inspired percussion. Maybe it's just great fucking music. The album plays like a vocal version of Yppah's last two albums if you're looking for a frame of reference. The vocals are totally sublime and work extremely well in this territory though, taking us more firmly into indie rock. Hooks here emerge naturally instead of the "oh shit, it's time for the chorus" moments of a lot of indie rock. The albums flows together and it better listened to as a whole, but there are moments I feel will be on a lot of hipsters' playlists, including the opener "It's Not Meant To Be", the infectious "Make Up Your Mind", or "Expectations", which feels like 60s pop until the psychedelic denouement. Strangely, none of those are the opening single, which is "Solitude Is Bliss" and not one pf the lighlights for me, but solid. One of the better psychedelic records to come my way in a while, and probably the first I'd play in front of friends in a much longer while.