The Flaming Lips/Tame Impala

In 2013 The Flaming Lips returned – they never went away, but somehow pulled off a giant comeback. They didn’t really do anything different either; they remain firmly attached to their love of folly as was evidenced with a song-by-song piss-up/pisstake of The Stone Roses debut (which I loved). There was a great album and  a really great EP from them too. A really good year then. They love creating limited edition pieces, sideline gems and “manufactured rarities”. They love playing with the mystique and fan-fetish items, they love flirting back at the worship that greats them.

Tame Impala had a quieter year – in that they did not flood the (non-)market with albums and EPs like the Lips did. But they toured with The Lips and consolidated on a whirlwind couple of years where Kevin Parker was either everyone’s favourite genius or charlatan – or a bit of both.

So here is a tour EP featuring The Flaming Lips covering Tame Impala and Tame Impala covering The Flaming Lips.

It’s fun. I like it. And I’m not sure it really needs anything much in terms of a review. You see you can check out The Lips’ covers of Tame Impala right here (I like how they handle Elephant) and you can hear Tame Impala’s covers of The Flaming Lips right here (I particularly like their version of Are You A Hypnotist??, though they certainly nail Silver Trembling Hands also).

This is fuck-around stuff, obviously. But it’s pretty cool, even if slight. It was all exclusive and coloured-vinyl and sneaky-download only, but it’s around. It’s easy enough to find. It’s for fans – of either band. And it’s a decent wee treat to check out. I’ve been playing it a bunch. I haven’t got sick of it – to me it’s just been another feather in the cap for the Flaming Lips this year. Even if this particular feather is the one most like to float away in the breeze and never (really) be missed.