8/10
The evolution of Tyler, The Creator has been a marvellous thing to behold. While he began his career with the stunning breakthrough debut album 'Goblin' in 2011, bringing a wave of controversy and confrontative energy with him, as well as introducing us to the Odd Future collective, he has since spent the last few years turning his persona around and becoming fully embraced by the commercial mainstream. And it is this forward-thinking direction he brings to his sixth studio album 'CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST', a record that is just as ferocious and driven as he started out as.
On his previous full-length 'Igor', we saw a more involved Tyler at the helm. Producing and writing the album solo, we realised that he was a far more talented character than we could ever have thought. But on 'CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST', he has invited producers Jamie xx and Jay Versace in to take care of more of the beats, freeing him up to focus firmly on the lyrics and their vibrant direction. It almost feels that this release is like an 'Igor' 2.0, building off of his previous guise to push his newer sound forward and develop his rich and ambitious newfound aesthetic.
What keeps this new collection so captivating is its pace. With many of the tracks barely cracking the two minute mark, 'CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST' moves and switches things up just as you start to get comfortable, creating this ever-moving and sprawling release that barely sees him take a breath. This is Tyler, The Creator at his finest, and he makes it seem so easy.