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Tame Impala Shifts Gears with Intimate New Album, Deadbeat
Perth, Australia – Tame Impala‘s fifth studio album, Deadbeat, released today, marks a meaningful evolution for the project spearheaded by Kevin Parker, trading the psychedelic rock foundations of earlier work for a decidedly electronic and dance-focused sound. The album, arriving four years after The Slow Rush, reflects a period of personal change for Parker, who became a father in 2022, and a willingness to embrace a rawer, more unpolished aesthetic.
Initially known as a record collector’s band, then a one-man project fueled by crate-digging, Tame Impala’s journey has led Parker to the dancefloor. Deadbeat isn’t simply a stylistic shift; it’s a window into Parker’s evolving psyche, exploring familiar themes of jealousy, paralysis, and social anxiety through a new sonic lens, and offering a glimpse behind the meticulously crafted facade that defined previous albums. here are five key takeaways from Deadbeat.
1. A Demo as Declaration: Deadbeat boldly opens with a demo recording of Parker singing over a house piano riff.This deliberate choice signals a departure from the polished production of Currents and The Slow Rush, presenting an image of Parker working in isolation, even amidst high-end recording equipment. The piano motif recurs throughout the album, grounding the electronic explorations.
2. Influences on Display: Parker pays homage to a diverse range of musical influences on Deadbeat. Tracks directly reference or echo the work of artists like Jeff Mills (“The Bells” influence on “Not My World”), The Beatles (“See You on Monday”), and even DJ Khaled and Rihanna (“Wild Thoughts” inspiration for “Obsolete”).
3. Fatherhood & Pop Culture Nods: The album subtly incorporates references to Parker’s new role as a father, with lyrical nods to Family Guy and Pablo Escobar appearing alongside the project’s signature emotional territory. This blend of the personal and the pop-cultural adds a new layer of complexity to the Tame Impala universe.
4. Embracing Imperfection: Parker, long known for his meticulous attention to detail, appears increasingly comfortable with leaving ”the seams” visible. On the single “Loser,” a murmured “fuck” remains audible in the final mix, a ”fossil record” of an earlier, more spontaneous take.
5. A shift to Dance Music: Deadbeat is unequivocally Parker’s most direct engagement with electronic and dance music to date. The album’s sonic palette prioritizes rhythms and textures designed for the dancefloor, signaling a new direction for Tame Impala and a culmination of the project’s ongoing sonic evolution.
