Cuddle Up With: Tame Impala

Cuddle Up With: Tame Impala

Wikipedia says that Tame Impala is "a three piece psychedelic rock band from Perth, Western Australia" and thats about all you need to know. In 2008 they released a short, rough self-titled EP that lifts heavily from late Beatles and jam-band psychedelia. Lead singer Kevin Parker sounds eerily like John "I Am A Walrus" Lennon on the EP, and the songs boasts solid melodies and a vintage production style.

From the two tracks that have been released from the band's debut full-length Innerspeaker, it seems Tame Impala is continuing with the psychedelic sound, albeit via much fuller production. I still haven't got my hands on a copy of the whole album, but it sounds promising.

Standout single, Runway, Houses, City, Clouds slowly fades in (don't turn up the volume...) with a rather significant riff. The train-wreck rhythm is backed by a soaring vocal melody that breaks open at about the 2:40 min mark into a Beatles-esque four-part harmony. The song floats for about thirty seconds before launching back into the driving rhythm and eventually fizzling out with what seems to be stylistic homage to the Beatles' "Sun King".

Stay tuned for more Tame Impala, who will be releasing their debut Innerspeaker in the U.S. on June 8.
Until then, grab their single below and be sure to listen to another gem from Innerspeaker, Solitude is Bliss at the band's myspace (Or you can purchase the song from Itunes).
Pre-order the album here.

Tame Impala :: Runway, Houses, City, Clouds (from Innerspeaker [2010])
Tame Impala :: Desire Be Desire Go (From Tame Impala EP [2008]) (...John Lennon...am I right?)
[mp3 removed by request]