Managing to sound simultaneously authentically retro and yet still very cutting edge at the same time is a neat trick and youthful Aussie psychsters Tame Impala balance it wonderfully, surfing the fine line between something obviously influenced by early Pink Floyd and Marc Bolan and something totally new and unexpected. (I saw Tame Impala in concert recently in Pomana, CA and they were impressive indeed, zigging where lesser bands would have zagged. It sounded very familiar and yet was never derivative.)
The same can be said of love him or hate him, you just can’t ignore him, Kanye West. He brings back a lot of the spirit of spontaneity and innovation not heard in hip-hop for some time, and yet still West is pushing sonic boundaries beyond what some of his fans are ready or willing to process.
Normally I’m not one for “mash-ups” unless they’re done really, really well but this clever remix that pits of Tame Impala’s “Elephant” hit against “Black Skinhead,” the first single from Yeezus hits the spot. It’s the work of Washington, D.C.-based producer Nate Belasco.