When it comes to Tame Impala, there’s some usual reference points that get bandied about.
Such as the impact of 70s production, psychedelic rock, and the similarities to The Beatles (as pointed by John Lennon’s own son), but you don’t often hear about the influence of the fallen King of Pop, Michael Jackson, on the Perth group’s sound.
Overnight, Tame Impala released a cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Stranger In Moscow’ “fresh out of the oven,” as they write on Facebook, “MJ 4 eva.”
The 1996 single may not be the most signature of Michael Jackson hits, but being an ode to solitude, it ties perfectly to the lyrical thread of Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker’s own Lonerism thematics.
Sonically, the prodigious producer-performer gives ‘Stranger In Moscow’ a deliciously spacey makeover, with particular emphasis on the laidback, sombre tempo and the delicate melodic turns. In short, it’s terrific.
The surprise MJ cover has another connection to the Perth cosmonauts in Kevin Parker’s new disco-funk side-project AAA Aaardvrk Getdown Services, which got its official live debut at a Perth Festival showcase from Spinning Top, Tame Impala’s Fremantle-based record label, last month.
“Kevin’s been writing all these disco, Michael Jackson megahits that he wouldn’t use for Tame because he’d be too sheepish about it but I’m trying to convince him to because they’re all next-level Thriller-pop,” is how Tame Impala/Pond/Gum member Jay Watson described AAA Aaardvark’s tunes ahead of their Perth Festival performance at Chevron Gardens.
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The Spinning Top gig, featured Parker drumming and triggering vocal samples, leading a lineup featuring The Growl frontman/Tame Impala bassist Cameron Avery, Cam Parkin of local band Cosmo Gets on keys, and Ben Witt, singer-guitarist behind Perth band The Chemist. Together, AAA Aaardvark delivered a set mixing psych-rock sonics with fundamental disco and funk grooves (watch/listen to 30min of fan-shot footage at bottom).
It’s unclear at this stage if Parker’s side-project will enter the studio or remain a live entity, but it is clear that the 27-year-old musician/producer has been busy working on new material that’s intended to follow up the award-scooping, Grammy-nominated Lonerism. Previously using pizza analogies to describe the minimalistic bent of the new recordings, which will make Tame Impala’s celebrated second album “sound like amateur hour,” in Parkers’ words.
In related news, the previously reported collaboration between Tame Impala and Kendrick Lamar for the Divergent film soundtrack has also been released. Titled ‘Backwards’, the track sees the 26-year-old MC delivering his aggressive hip hop delivery over a backing constructed from Tame’s ‘Feels Like We Only Go Backwards’ and an added string section.
Listen to the K.Dot/Tame crossover below, along with Michael Jackson’s original ‘Stranger In Moscow’ and fan-shot video of AAA Aardvark Getdown Services.
