There is no way I would ever have predicted the existence of a band called Porridge Radio but now that one exists I cannot understand a world without one.
Parker’s greatest trick, though, is you’ll get exactly as much as you put into this song: At a minimum, it’s gorgeous sonic wallpaper, but spend a bit of time with it and it’s a fascinating artistic leap from an artist in the process of cementing a brilliant legacy. “Posthumous Forgiveness” is ultimately the most lyrically direct Tame Impala song that exists, which also makes it the most heartbreaking. Here, he burrows further and further into his own life and memories, exploring his complicated relationship with his father, and how he wishes he could tell him about what his life is like now (hence the song’s title). Parker excels at creating music that exists out of time, using sonic signifiers of the moment (you’d be forgiven if you thought the Weeknd in some way contributed to the vocals here), but as he moves further and further away from the relatively straightforward psych rock of 2010’s Innerspeaker, he continues to find a home in zonked out, hypnotic self-reflection.
“Posthumous Forgiveness” is easily the highlight of the latest crop of singles from Tame Impala’s upcoming The Slow Rush, because it doubles down on what front man Kevin Parker does so well.
