They may not be able to clap in time, but Tame Impala did not fail to impress at their biggest headline show to date.
Arriving at the Brixton Academy in the middle of their Lonerism tour, this sold out show is Tame Impala's biggest ever UK gig, and man do they know it. Looking almost stage-struck as they emerge to rapturous applause, they get straight with the teasing album intro ‘Be Above It’. The repetitive, skittish mantra and expansive synths cajole you on board for the cosmic journey we’re about to join.
Signing with Modular Records back in 2007, Tame Impala have been followed by loved-up plaudits almost constantly since the release of their debut album ‘Innerspeaker’. Describing themselves "the movement in Orion's nebula and the slime from a snail journeying across a footpath", their lush, harmony driven dream pop has seen them bowl over everyone from Pitchfork to BBC6 Music. According to Wikipedia at least, their previous London headline show was attended by Noel Gallagher, Sergio Pizzorno, Alexa Chung and Noel Fielding, so god knows who we’ll find propping up the bar at this one.
Tonight the set is mainly comprised of mixed with gems from both albums, seamlessly marrying the lush, pop elements of the Australian’s latest release with the psychedelic nature of their debut. Sometimes it’s freak out drum rhythms, signature bass lines or anthemic existentialism but most of the time it’s just loud.
The subject matter from Kevin Parker’s song writing is often about isolation but here, he’s joined by a packed crowd, together, arm in arm singing ‘company’s okay, solitude is bliss’. ‘It’s Not Meant To Be’ – a standout from ‘Innerspeaker’ – is sandwiched between an instrumental and ‘Lonerism’s ‘Music To Walk Home By’ and by the time the last chords chime out, Parker looks more comfortable, audibly humbled by the size of support his project has garnered but now ready to interact, softly with the audience.
A brief pause to mention the contrast between this and the previous time the band came to London and they blast into ‘Elephant’. It’s a heavy, stomping single and signals a gear shift in the gig away from the brow furrowing experimentalism and towards the more relaxed and fun end of Tame Impala’s music.
‘Feels Like We Only Go Backwards’ follows soon after, with the vocals mixed down low and the instruments high, lyrics from the verse are lost beneath a mountain of sound, intentionally or not. We’re almost lifted into orbit, however, as the crowd sings the chorus, arms outstretched, pointing to the sky. It’s odd, on record most of these songs feel like spaced out weed jams but in this setting there’s a communal feel to the whole experience.
As the band glide from ‘Mind Mischief’ to ‘Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?’ and ‘Desire Be, 'Desire Go’ throughout the hour, it’s apparent that they’ve built up a large collection of great songs in a relatively short space of time.
‘Apocalypse Dreams’ closes out the set as the green. spiralling eye-shaped Spirograph doodle watches on from the projector. Many of the other worldly sounds from the record are replicated live and if there’s one gripe, it’s that the songs, which have so much scope for experimentation, are all delivered in a rather straight up way.
It’s not until the band return for an encore of ‘Half Full Glass of Wine’ that they deliver an alternate interpretation of one of their songs and it’s kind of ruined by THE MOST OUT OF TUNE CROWD HAND CLAP OF ALL TIME. With their work done, Tame Impala put down their instruments and calmly stroll back to whatever planet it is that they come from.
To check out more gigs at the Brixton Academy - check out our listings!
http://www.tameimpala.com/
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