Album Review: Foster the People – Paradise State of Mind
3 min read
Well, well, well!!!! LA-based indie-pop band Foster the People return with their fourth studio LP after seven years (we’re ignoring the EP four years ago). The band, now a duo of Isom Innis and (obviously) Mark Foster (album contributor Sean Cimino departed earlier this year), release Paradise State of Mind through Atlantic Records, with lead man Foster promising an album greatly influenced by the music of the 1970s… so let’s keep on steppin’ and see what’s crackin’ (both very popular phrases in the 1970’s BTW, before you think I’ve lost it).
See You in the Afterlife starts the album as promised, dripping in a modern take of seventies disco & funk. This is a strong start (probably my favourite track on the album) – high tempo, funky beat, and plenty of retro cool about the synths. Tough act to follow, but first single release Lost in Space does so admirably, dripping with a deep seventies funky synth, sounding like very Two Door Cinema or Empire of the Sun… or a modern take on ELO. Slowing it down, but keeping it funky, second release Take Me Back has a particularly groovy bass line, whilst Let Go continues with the down tempo groove, with the second half of the track really taking it up a level (again, very ELO) with the vocal and orchestral harmonising. Feed Me picks up the tempo, sounding as much like a prime Prince track in this belter, while following (title) track Paradise State of Mind has a similar skip beat to late 80’s hip-hop, ending the tune with great backing (gospel…ish) singing.
Ever wondered what musical chaos sounds like when it works out positively? Glitchzig is the answer, I’d need a whole review to break down where it goes alone with the Kraftwerk influence, the horns, and psychedelic rock elements… but it’s well worth a listen!! Following that madness, The Holy Shangri-La slows it down for this fantastic LoFi funk track, and Sometimes I Wanna Be Bad runs with the funky vibes, picking the tempo up a half-notch and adding some great flute, but still being all about the bass. Penultimate track Chasing Low Vibrations also is Foster the People’s most recent single release from the album, has a real nostalgia feel to it, and subsequent track A Diamond to Be Born rounds of the album – beginning with cool synth vocals, this was a track with Tame Impala vibes to it, and was a close runner to my fave…and the orchestral ending was something else… spine chilling!
Ok, so I loved Paradise State of Mind. I thought the major seventies disco vibes running throughout were fantastic, with funk weaving in and out of tracks, orchestral elements finding a welcome place, and the style and intensity of tracks were well varied, ranging from safe poppy disco through to extremely experimental, chaotic, almost avant-garde madness! It was one of those rare albums where I didn’t skip a track, and whilst I knew the last track was coming to an end, I didn’t clock-watch to see how long was left to go. If you are a fan of that funky disco and groovy bassline vibe, then this is the album for you give it a try – peace out, man!
This is fantastic!