Currents (2015)

“Currents” is the third studio album by Australian psychedelic music project Tame Impala, released on 17 July 2015. The album was written, recorded, performed, and produced by Kevin Parker in his home studio in Fremantle, Western Australia. Departing from the guitar-driven sound of previous albums, Currents incorporates a more electronic and synth-based approach, blending elements of psychedelic pop, R&B, and dance music.

Musical Style and Themes

Currents explores themes of personal transformation, self-discovery, and the complexities of relationships. The album’s sound is characterized by lush synthesizers, groovy basslines, and Parker’s distinctive falsetto vocals. Notable tracks include:

• “Let It Happen”: An opening track that sets the tone with its hypnotic rhythm and introspective lyrics.

• “The Less I Know the Better”: A funk-infused song that became one of Tame Impala’s most popular hits.

• “Eventually”: A melancholic track dealing with the inevitability of change and heartbreak.

Upon release, Currents received widespread acclaim from music critics. On Metacritic, the album holds an average score of 84 out of 100, indicating “universal acclaim”. Critics praised Parker’s production skills and the album’s cohesive sound. Ian Cohen of Pitchfork awarded it “Best New Music”, highlighting Parker’s growth as a producer and songwriter. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked Currents at number 382 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time“ .

Currents achieved commercial success, debuting at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart in Australia. It also charted in the top 10 in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.