SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FLYING LOTUS – BIG MAMA

FLYING LOTUS
BIG MAMA
INDEPENDENT

Despite not releasing a studio album since 2019’s Flamagra, Flying Lotus remains in a state of constant motion as he moves through the decade with a range of projects, including soundtracks for Yasuke, Ozzy’s Dungeon, and Ash, along with EPs Flying Objects and last year’s Spirit Box. Now, the pioneering producer has released his latest EP, Big Mama.

The title track opens the EP for the briefest of moments. Lasting only 36 seconds, Flying Lotus greets listeners with a fast-paced, electronic odyssey that could serve as the theme music for a character or even an entire animated feature. In this sense, the record’s artwork serves as a thematic introduction that should set the tone for what lies on Big Mama. The album continues with the ever so slight avantgarde-inspired “Captain Kernel,” a track that indulges far more than the opening song with a jazz fusion synth solo, again feeling like the soundtrack to a cartoon or video game.

While there are certainly moments of greatness across Big Mama, the entirely instrumental, electronic soundscape feels as though it needs something to finalize the arrangements. Whether that be a singer or rapper, it is clear that Flying Lotus would benefit from a collaborator on his latest album. This, however, should not diminish the jazz influence found across the album, as Flying Lotus rips adventurous solos through a world of synths and electronic beats. There is no denying his musicianship or artistic vision, however, Big Mama feels like a collection of sketches intended to become something greater, making them reminiscent for his work with Cartoon Network.

Clocking in at just over 13 minutes, Big Mama feels like a sample of what’s to come, and if that is true, it should leave listeners excited; however, the EP cannot escape the feeling that, in its current state, it is meant to accompany something else. Still, Flying Lotus should be celebrated for continuing to pursue the unknown through his use of jazz and fusion influences. By focusing on the hyper electronic sounds of Saturday morning cartoons, Flying Lotus flexes his versatility as a producer on Big Mama.

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