Australian indie rocker Tame Impala’s new album, Deadbeat, is finally out. Tame Impala, the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker, arrives five years after the 2020 album, The Slow Rush.
Upon release, Deadbeat landed a No. 4 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. The twelve-track psychedelic album takes listeners on an electronic sonic journey that blends pop, techno, new wave, and EDM.
I found Deadbeat to be an experimental yet surprisingly cohesive album from start to finish. There’s a dark club vibe from the heavy bass and gritty synths that makes these songs intoxicating to listen to. The album takes the familiar Tame Impala sound and makes it even more danceable. Delayed vocals and fun trippy riffs are still ever-present.
Tame Impala's heavy-hitting beats bring a strong new sound to the table
Deadbeat starts off with “My Old Ways,” which uses an old-fashioned, honky tonk piano that sounds like it was recorded on an old iPhone. It’s convincingly a demo until the beat drops hard and heavy. My favorite part of the album is how the beat comes in consistently powerful on almost every track.
“No Reply” is a groovy song that shows off syncopated rhythms and fuzzy yet dreamy vocals. I like how the synths mirror the fuzz of the vocals, effectively scratching an itch I didn't know existed. There’s a faint layer of birdsong in the background that adds complexity.
Deadbeat has a few songs that sound like they’re meant for the clubs. My personal favorite is “Dracula.” The punchy bassline, darker chord progressions, and smooth production style create a familiar danceability. The song feels very fitting for the end of spooky season and the beginning of winter.
On “Loser,” which I found to be a more contemplative and introspective track, there’s a groovy guitar riff introduced that’s reminiscent of the heavier guitars on past Tame Impala albums. It’s a show of musical growth that Deadbeat is a project reliant on synths and piano as opposed to other instrumentation.
There’s a mix of trance and even pop ballads that sound like they’re from out of this world. I loved that the melodic piano from the beginning of the Deadbeat is a theme that comes back mid-album in “Piece of Heaven.”
Deadbeat is a record built to last over time
My standout tracks on the album are “Dracula,” “Not My World,” and “Ethereal Connection.” On these tracks, Tame Impala makes a surprising leap from psychedelic rock into the world of techno and EDM. This experimental mix of genres is sure to make this album a longtime fan favorite.
Overall, Deadbeat made quite an impression and is an exciting show of artist development from Tame Impala. Fans can catch Tame Impala on the ongoing Deadbeat tour this fall.