Tame Impala's new song, "Posthumous Forgiveness," explores the relationship between Kevin Parker and his deceased father. Listen above, courtesy of the artist's YouTube.
What makes this song special is the deeply personal emotion in Parker's vocals. We can all relate to having complicated relationships with our parents, but this song captures his story over the course of decades in an epic six-minute track. Backed by Parker's brilliant musicianship, the lyrics shift between feelings of admiration, disappointment, anger, empathy, yearning, and ultimately love. In response to the release, Kevin's brother Stephen shared on Instagram, "Made my day, ruined me for the day."
Over the years, Tame Impala has evolved and embraced new sounds. While that progression has generally flowed toward disco and pop music, "Posthumous Forgiveness" is a return to a psychedelic rock sound with shades of Eric Clapton's "Let It Grow" and John Lennon's "Mother" — although the guitar is subtle and largely overshadowed by various keyboard synths that range from silky smooth during the verses to menacing during the instrumental break. Parker's vocal triplets also bring to mind a Hip-Hop flow, as a breakbeat drum pattern brings the song to its conclusion.
The song will appear on Tame Impala's upcoming album, The Slow Rush, scheduled for release on February 14, 2020. Pick it up on Amazon.
For more, check out Tame Impala's Zumic artist page.
