Paradise State of Mind is a psychedelic fever dream that chases ecstasy across a digital landscape.
Foster The People rose to fame in 2011 with their hit “Pumped Up Kicks” which quickly climbed the charts and earned a staggering number of nominations across various award shows and categories. The band has undergone many changes since then with members coming and going and a hiatus leaving fans itching for a taste of something new.
Paradise State of Mind is their first album in seven years. At this point, Mark Foster, lead singer and founder, is the only remaining original member. With this release, he re-cements Foster The People’s place in the alternative scene while honing in on psychedelia.
Immediately, Paradise State of Mind sounds like something you’ve heard before. Some tunes could be mistaken for a Tame Impala record or the band’s favourite, Daft Punk, while others take you farther back in time with vocals influenced by Prince. It’s a downcast disco with groovy beats and gloomy lyrics.
There’s a desperation to reclaim the good in this record. With the release of “Take Me Back” as the second single, Foster explained, “It’s not so much about living in the past, as it is about being optimistic about what’s to come.” Other songs like “Let Go,” “Paradise State of Mind,” and “The Holy Shangri-La” reflect on hardships and shine light on the hope that pulls you through. Synths and orchestral-like backing vocals pull you into a daze as if you were living in Foster’s head. Brief moments of silence as one song transitions into another release listeners only to be pulled back in by the next track. Reaching the light—the goodness Foster craves—is an ongoing process across the eleven tracks, only to be reached in the final moments of “A Diamond To Be Born.”
At times, Paradise State of Mind is experimental and whether those efforts are a success is up to the listener. “Feed Me” is almost uncomfortably strange with its eerie digital sound and bizarre lyricism: “I want to taste all your data and intoxicate.” Sonically, it undoubtedly belongs amongst the other tracks, though it does stick out a bit like a sore thumb lyrically.
The production on Paradise State of Mind is outstanding and a definite highlight on the record. Foster’s vision for this project and determination to bring the band back into the spotlight is evident in this carefully crafted selection of songs. If an escape from your mind is what you need, Foster The People have got you covered.
