Tame Impala still has its funk

Time can be a comfort or curse. It can heal, but it can also compress, building up a pressure that begs for release.

The Slow Rush seems to be just that — a discharge of the creative pressure that was mounting after years of fans questioning, “What will Tame Impala do next?”

The success of the psychedelic rock band’s 2015 Currents allowed them to become one of the defining rock groups of the last decade. And with this album, they’ve delivered once again.

The album is not only tied by themes of time, but also an over arching feel that singer, writer and producer Kevin Parker is trying to prove something.

“Tell everyone I’ll be alright,” he sings on On Track’ “Because strictly speaking, I’m still on track.” In Breathe Deeper this defensive tone is taken once again — “If you think I couldn’t hold my own, believe me, I can.” These lines are moderated by an upbeat psych-synth sound that masks the melancholy. But song after song the sense of insecurity reappears in the lines sung by Parker.

One of the most brilliant songs on the album is Posthumous Forgiveness. Parker fully confronts the complexity of coping with his father’s death, cycling through blame, anger, despair and longing over the course of the six-minute track. The attention to detail on Posthumous Forgiveness is mirrored throughout The Slow Rush. Parker’s meticulous tendencies pay off, allowing him to create a thoughtful masterpiece.