Tag: tame impala

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Music

Concert review: Tame Impala at Place Bell, Laval

Photo by Faustine Chonavel-Weakley
Photo by Faustine Chonavel-Weakley

The Australian band’s divine performance even made some people faint

The cold Laval air was filled with the sounds of police sirens and fans chattering about the upcoming Tame Impala show. Standing in line, it was evident that an infectious energy was spreading. 

The opening act went by the name of Junglepussy. She was an oddball choice as an opener by Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker, since she is a hip/hop artist and Tame Impala is a psychedelic alternative band. Her performance was a bit underwhelming on account of her half-hearted dance moves, but the highlight of her show were the visuals, which elevated the senses for each one of the songs. Her most memorable songs were “Trader Joe” for the hilarious pop culture quips which left the crowd reeling with laughter, and “Nah,” which sounded like a Nas-influenced beat.  

After a 15-minute intermission, Tame Impala started off with a luscious intro involving lunar visuals moving around (among other spherical objects). The setlist was comprised of the band’s greatest hits like “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” and “Borderline.” The third song, “Nangs,’” had the Currents album artwork as visuals, which seemed to almost breathe, contracting and expanding and flowing in a “current.” They then dedicated “Breathe Deeper” to Junglepussy, thanking her for opening for the band, which was kind on Parker’s part. 

After bantering with the crowd, Tame Impala played their song “On Track.” Before playing, Parker said that it was the first time the band had performed it live in front of an audience. I really appreciated that the group took the time to mention this little tidbit, because normally bands will say things like “You guys are the loudest city we’ve been to!” just for the sake of riling up the energy of their fans. However, here Parker showed a genuine excitement towards sharing this previously-unperformed song with the audience, creating a memorable experience.

At one point in between songs, Parker said “That stuff smells nice, Montreal weed is good!” The conversations that he had with the crowd were lively and personal too, especially after a member of the crowd gave him a bouquet of flowers.    

The seizure-inducing light show seemed divine, and for each song the visuals were stunning, putting on a psychedelic show which felt like an LSD trip, at least to those who indulged in said practices. During “Breathe Deeper,” two fans fainted. Clearly, they did not pay attention to the song’s title. Understandably, the light show was so overwhelming with the face-melting visuals that surely a lot of other fans felt like they were going to faint as well.

One of the most memorable songs was of course “Elephant.” The sheer monolithic sound of the guitar and bass overpowered most people’s ears but thankfully it was not too overwhelming! Another song that shared this frequency was “Let It Happen.” In my opinion, “Eventually” happened to be my favourite song from the setlist.  

During “Runway Houses City Clouds,” a fan was injured just as the band started to play. Parker stopped playing the song to make sure they were okay. Once everything was cleared up, they restarted the song and all was well. The real-time generated visuals induced a psychedelic fever dream that gave off Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas vibes. Their encores were “The Less I Know The Better” and “One More Hour,” which was the perfect send-off for the band.

Memorable songs: “Elephant,” “Breathe Deeper,” “On Track,” “Eventually,” “Runway Houses City Clouds”

Total times confetti thrown: 3 

Word of the concert: Divine

Photo by Faustine Chonavel-Weakley

Categories
Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Tame Impala – The Slow Rush

Tame Impala’s highly anticipated fourth LP presents itself as a reflection of Kevin Parker’s growth as both a musician and producer.

The release of The Slow Rush marks the ten-year anniversary of Tame Impala’s eclectic and genre defying debut, Innerspeaker, shifting the vision of the project from being more experimental to more concise.

Kevin Parker, the multifaceted musician and producer who releases his work under Tame Impala, has easily become one of the most sought-after producers of the decade. Having completed The Slow Rush shortly after working on various collaborative projects with artists such as Lady Gaga, Theophilus London, Travis Scott, Kali Uchis and Miguel, Parker explored new production techniques that are specific to pop and hip hop music.

One of the most remarkable elements of The Slow Rush is the increased use of percussion, which compliments the over-the-top layering, different textures and heavily distorted arrangements within each track. There is also a pleasant contrast throughout the album between the lengthy idiosyncratic compositions such as “It Might be Time,” “Posthumous Forgiveness,” and the powerful and endlessly replayable pop anthems like “Breathe Deeper,” which Parker describes on streaming services as his most  “Mariah Carey-esque” track.

The overarching theme of the record aligns with the concept of time and how it affects different relationships, which is apparent with the album commencing with “One More Year,” and culminating with “One More Hour.”

Overall, The Slow Rush shows how much Kevin Parker has evolved in his musicianship and will undoubtedly make for an epic live performance.

Rating: 10/10

Trial Track: “Tomorrow’s Dust”

 

Categories
Music

Quickspins: Tame Impala, A.C. Newman, Ultraísta, Three Days Grace

Tame Impala – Lonerism (2012; Modular Recordings)

In 2010, a quartet of skinny, shaggy-haired Aussies burst onto the indie-rock scene with a distinctive blend of loud, synth-driven, psychedelic rock. Melding melody with heavy distortion, Tame Impala’s music conveyed the image of a stadium arena, filled exclusively with beer-swinging, pot-smoking bros. Two years down the line not much has changed.

Although their single “Elephant” seemed to promise a change of direction for the band, their sophomore effort Lonerism continues in a similar vein as their debut Innerspeak. Digging even deeper into their signature sound, Lonerism has amped up the weirdness, burying their songs in psychedelic tangents and studio tinkering. Simultaneously, singer Kevin Parker’s eerily John Lennon-like vocals, paired with the trippy melodies, makes one wonder how Magical Mystery Tour would have sounded with today’s technological innovations. Nevertheless, Lonerism lives up to its name, leading the listener in a solo adventure down the rabbit hole.

 

Trial track: “Elephant”

Rating: 6/10

-Cora Ballou

 

A.C. Newman – Shut Down The Streets (Matador; 2012)

A.C. Newman – Shut Down The Streets (Matador; 2012)

Best known as the frontman of Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers, Carl Newman is finally showing a more personal and intimate side to his songwriting. Newman said that Shut Down The Streets “is all about birth, death, happiness and sadness, chronicling a time in my life where all those things had to learn to coexist side by side.”

Following a year of joys and sorrows, the heartbreaking “They Should Have Shut Down The Streets” was written after the death of his mother, while the blissful “Strings” and “Hostages” are about the birth of his son.

Inspired by classic ’70s folk and pop singer/songwriters, and featuring vocal contributions by fellow bandmate Neko Case, Shut Down The Streets is a beautiful album, full of timeless string arrangements, acoustic and synthesized instrumentation, and a brutally honest sentiment that is sure to win your heart.

 

Trial track: “I’m Not Talking”

Rating: 8/10

– Paul Traunero

 

Ultraísta – Ultraísta (2012; Temporary Residence Records)

Nigel Godrich, of Radiohead producing fame, formed Ultraísta with famed session musician Joey Waronker and vocalist Laura

Ultraísta – Ultraísta (2012; Temporary Residence Records)

Bettinson. The band’s name takes its inspiration from a former Spanish literary movement.

Though Godrich’s involvement has certainly spurred the media’s hype over this obscure three-piece band, the attention is well deserved. The vocalist’s prowess keeps you listening to every second of each track. There is heavy use of vocal looping and digital cut-and-paste production, creating a unique vibe.

The result is an excellent debut, sure to please fans of Radiohead, Zero 7, and electronic enthusiasts. Some might find the music a little too abstract for their taste, as a result of overproduction.

 

Trial track: “Smalltalk”

Rating: 8.7 / 10

-A.J. Cordeiro

 

Three Days Grace – Transit of Venus (2012; RCA)

A ‘transit of Venus’ is an astronomical phenomenon by which Venus passes in front of the Sun, becoming visible to Earth. With Three

Three Days Grace – Transit of Venus (2012; RCA)

Days Grace’s new album, aptly titled Transit of Venus, the band does just that. They reach for the sun and increase their visibility without burning themselves. Instead, they shine.

Each song sounds carefully structured and ached over, and each lyric bleeds perfectly into the next through frontman Adam Gontier’s voice. The lyrics are what have improved the most since 2009’s Life Starts Now. Each song is heavy, honest and raw. From breakup anthem “Chalk Outline,” all the way to closer “Unbreakable Heart,” the band shows just how much of themselves has been poured into this album. Having been in the industry for 20 years and in the mainstream for the last decade, it is a true testament to their skill that this new release may come to be remembered as the group’s best yet.

 

Trial track: “The High Road”

Rating: 9/10

– Ryan Demberg

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