Tame Impala is back and this time, it’s not all swirling psych guitars and kaleidoscopic introspection. With the release of “End Of Summer,” Kevin Parker takes a decisive turn toward the dance floor, delivering a thumping, synth-heavy track that feels more like a DJ set at 3 a.m. than a psychedelic daydream. The single arrives with a new video, released July 25, following cryptic teasers and a not-so-subtle hint on the band’s website reading, “iwaitedtiltheendofsummerandiranoutoftime.”
Premiered in full after being previewed at Primavera Sound in June, “End Of Summer” marks a sonic evolution that’s been quietly unfolding for a while. If Parker’s recent collaborations with Dua Lipa on “Houdini” and EDM veterans Justice on “Neverender” hinted at a move toward high-BPM pop and electronic textures, this single makes it official. The song trades the dense psych-pop arrangements of Lonerism and Currents for a streamlined four-on-the-floor pulse, pairing retro synths with a distinctly modern energy.
The video, fittingly atmospheric, underscores that restless energy. There’s a sense that Parker isn’t just playing with genre; he’s signaling a broader shift in creative intent. Tame Impala’s new chapter isn’t about returning to old formulas; it’s about shedding them entirely.
Whether “End Of Summer” is a standalone experiment or the opening note of a larger body of work, it signals that Kevin Parker still has the ability and the appetite to surprise.