Much more than an antiquated psych-rock group with a funny name, this Aussie fivesome have achieved something highly enviable on Lonerism- they have made a prog-rock album that does actually progress. Rather than stagnating beneath a suffocating haze of shimmering synth like a desperate 70s tribute act; jaunty, positively catchy drum beats and vocal lines spike out of an inviting, seductive backdrop of lush soundscapes and oozy basslines. The melodies have drive and groove while the psychedelic bits have an assured sense of belonging, almost arrogance that Muse may well be highly envious of. Lonerism has the rare ability to captivate and attract close listening while being blissfully passive; lowering the listener into its depths and then extracting them for a fresh descent on the wave of a changing guitar line or vocal melody with encouraging regularity.

There are numerous stand-out moments on this 12-tracker. The beautifully arranged introduction to ‘Endors Toi’ moulds a fluctuating synth whine with a poppy flange-chord guitar before punctuating itself with drums seemingly lifted straight from The National’s Boxer- each element marks out its space in uniting itself with its fellow sounds. ‘Music to Walk Home By’ is a masterpiece in layering, as vocal, guitar and bass coalesce over a Mark Ronson-esque groove; ‘Elephant’ takes Queens of the Stone Age’s bass arrangement, chucks in a bit of White Stripes guitar and punctuates it with beautifully placed drum-fills. The precision evident in such floaty, immersive music is at time staggeringly poised. Kevin Parker’s vocals back this up superbly: while they are still very much laconic, dreamy and at times whingey, their interplay with the sonic backdrop is almost flawless. 

On ‘Mind Mischief’ it aligns with the guitar to sojourn through the track, while on ‘Be Above It’ the titular refrain forms a conflicting rhythm track in its own right, alongside the main vocal. This is not a perfect record; ‘Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything That We Could Control’ meanders a little aimlessly much like its title, but any gripes are infinitesimal against the scope of the work.

This is an album awash with musical vitality and experimentation, looking to integrate classic psychedelica with indie-pop sensibility and pulling it off with a great deal of panache, rather than merely trying to time-travel via effects pedal. Tame Impala deserve more than attention- here are a band to be respected and admired for pulling off a considerable musical coup; Lonerism is simultaneously ‘Music To Walk Home By’ and ‘Music To Appreciate Really Thoroughly’.