It’s been a gruelling four years since we last received an album from Australian king of psychedelic-rock Tame Impala. But finally, we’ve got a taste of some of the new synths and beats on the new single ‘It Might Be Time’ which frontman Kevin Parker premiered on Beats 1 radio with Zane Lowe on Monday.
It’s fair to say Kevin has had his hands full during those four years, from undoubtedly putting heart and soul into the new album ‘The Slow Rush’, which Kevin confirmed will be dropping February 14th, 2020, he’s also been working with some of the modern music giants. From Kanye’s 2018 album ‘YE’ on which Parker has production credits for ‘Violent Crimes’, to working alongside Travis Scott on his album ‘Astroworld’, Parker has been shifting between the genres like no one else in the music industry.
Tame Impala’s electronic melodies have become somewhat of a favourite amongst other music greats too. Other artists have even sampled tracks in their own music, so if you haven’t yet heard music from Tame Impala, but find yourself to be fans of artist like Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky and even Rihanna, you more than likely will feel a form of deja vu when circulating through Tame Impala’s library.
The track features pacey pulsating electronic beats throughout from Parker’s signature keyboard sound, but what’s exciting is that’s not what is at the forefront of the instrumental of this track. This time, it’s the drums.
“The drums are the thing I love the most” Parker expressed when speaking to Zane Lowe about music in general on Beats 1 Radio, something which is extremely evident on this new track.
The signature guitar-heavy psychedelic rock sound mixed alongside the synthesizers from Parker’s keyboard is one we’re all now so familiar with from as a result 2015’s ‘Currents’. However, now we have this new drum-oriented track that still holds on to the roots of that sound, but it’s stimulating to know Tame Impala may be taking a turn down another new road.
When speaking to Zane Lowe regarding the new music in comparison to old music Parker had this to say, “I love those kinds of like, Supertramp melodies, kind of seventies prog, emotional things. But I also love extremely distorted, bombastic blown-out drums, you know?”
It’s clear from this track as well as with the release earlier this year of the first single from the album ‘Borderline’ which felt more of a groovy dance track, that Tame Impala definitely have something fresh up their sleeve for February 14th 2020. So, if you don’t have any plans for Valentine’s day by then — don’t fret — you’ve got this as your back-up.
Words: Joel De Gesso