Identity Theft 3.0

1. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma January 12, 2011

This album should have been impossible. It’s rare enough for a beatmaker to display this much depth of intuition, and it’s even rarer for one who is so aware of his strengths to stretch this far past both his peers and his entire back catalog. I mean, four years ago, I thought this guy was just another Dilla knockoff. My, how he’s grown! It’s one thing to be ambitious, to develop a lively, animated style of making beats and then to use that method to swallow up galaxies of styles and genres. But ambition isn’t even the most important element of what Flying Lotus is doing. His spirit hovers over this album like an all-seeing eye. Anywhere you look, there he is. The subtle imperfection in the hi hats? It’s him. The way the buzzy bass synth in “Recoiled” jumps out of the mix toward the middle, when the chords change? That’s him too. The lazy groove of the pitch shifted rap sample in “Satelllliiiiiiiteee”? If the shoe fits. This album doesn’t have a lazy genetic strand in its DNA. It oozes spirit and life, despite indulging so deeply in mind-altering studio wizardry. Every element speaks like an answer to a question you haven’t even thought to ask. It’s a musical oracle. Its sense of purpose is like your dad’s hand on your shoulder when he tells you everything’s going to be okay.

Everything’s going to be okay.

I am tired of thinking about the list. I am glad it is over.