The Flaming Lips - American Head

While the transformative nature of narcotics is a familiar - and often celebratory - theme on Flaming Lips records, ‘American Head’ is more concerned with the comedown. Rather fittingly, as they won’t be slaying many festival crowds this summer, they’ve served up something more reflective and intimate for album number 16. Lyrically, it’s Wayne Coyne’s most personal and earnest yet. Most tracks are directed at a specific individual - on two occasions, his mother. The first concerns his brother’s dabblings with acid and the second his own near-death encounter with armed robbers.

Musically, it’s the ‘Lips at their most fully-realised. It may not get your feet moving but it’ll tug at the heartstrings. Each track builds up slowly like a rising tide that eventually envelops you. Compelling stuff.