EP Review: Tame Impala, ‘Currents B-Sides & Remixes’

Title: Currents B-Sides & Remixes

Artist: Tame Impala

Record Label: Interscope Records

Release Date: November 17, 2017

Rating:

Australian psychedelic rock group, Tame Impala, recently released an EP titled Currents B-Sides & Remixes that is an extension from their 2015 LP, Currents. It consists of three new songs, ‘List of People (To Try And Forget About)’, ‘Powerlines’ and ‘Taxi’s Here’. On top of that, Tame Impala threw in two remixes of songs from their last album, one of ‘Reality in Motion’ and the other of ‘Let it Happen’.

Founder of the band, Kevin Parker, revealed that ‘List of People (To Try and Forget About)’, was being written at the end of their 2012 album, Lonerism. Parker talked on the Beats 1 show and disclosed why this song wasn’t added to Currents, explaining, “I guess one of the reasons it didn’t end up on the album is because it was started on so early, and I was so over it by the time I was finishing the album,” he described. “But by the time I got to finish it I was really satisfied with it as a song, and as a chunk of my creativity and emotion and stuff.”

The new songs on this EP still deliver that same hazy and guitar-heavy sound that Tame Impala fans know and love. ‘Powerlines’ starts off with a dark riff, which is then accompanied by drums. After that, synths upon synths are added as more layers begin to form, like a usual Tame Impala song would go. It’s almost as if this song was made for fans to understand how Parker makes his music, because it seems that this particular song could still be mixed with something more. The song is still dreamy and creates a mesmerizing mood, just as you’d hope. The last of the three songs, ‘Taxi’s Here’, delivers a slow and dramatic sound, where Parker’s vocals explain a story of human existence and what happens after death, matching the mood of the song.

The remix of ‘Reality in Motion’ was made by the band’s own, Jay Watson, who is also a member of glam-pop group, Pond, and has his own music called GUM. It’s safe to say Tame Impala has lots of experienced and talented band members. The second remix on the EP is of ‘Let it Happen’ and is done by Soulwax, which is a Belgian group who has remixed other bands as well like Arcade Fire. Their remix of the popular song from the Currents album consists of a nearly ten minute track, adding changes to Parker’s vocals and intensifying the bassline.

Along with the album, a Currents box set was released that included a poster and a magazine that is filled with sketches that give a glimpse into the production of Currents. Also contained in the box set is two records, one being a 12-inch red vinyl with the remixes on it, and the other is a 7-inch vinyl with the three b-sides.

Tame Impala did not disappoint when they released their new EP, Currents B-Sides & Remixes.  The band managed to maintain their classic synthesized and psychedelic tone while still exploring different noises and beats.