With a production assist from his label boss Flying Lotus, Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner offered up a loving valentine to ’70s jazz fusion with his 2011 debut The Golden Age of Apocalypse. That was the bassist-singer’s first album, but it was hardly his first rodeo. He’d recorded with Erykah Badu and Suicidal Tendencies, and played live with Snoop Dogg, Stanley Clarke, and Coachella headliners the Red Hot Chili Peppers before being signed to Brainfeeder as a solo artist. That earlier LP earned a fervent but small reception, so we’re happy to announce that Thundercat will be releasing a sophomore album on July 9.
This one’s simply titled Apocalypse and finds Lotus moving from co-producer to “executive producer.” The label’s announcement promises further examinations of the blurred territories where pop, soul, electronica, prog, and funk meet, and the first taste of the record bodes very well for the rest of it. Below, you can stream “Heartbreaks + Setbacks,” a song that reigns in Bruner’s more virtuosic habits and ethereal proclivities in favor of strong songcraft and tangible vibe. “Maybe this will be a chance for us to see / Maybe we’ll figure out where we’re supposed to be,” he sings, even though the guy has clearly found the sweet spot in his song. Thundercat hits the road with Lotus and the always excellent Teebs this month.
Thundercat, Apocalypse track list:
1. “Tenfold”
2. “Heartbreaks + Setbacks”
3. “The Life Aquatic”
4. “Special Stage”
5. “Tron Song”
6. “Seven”
7. “Oh Sheit It’s X”
8. “Without You”
9. “Lotus and the Jondy”
10. “Evangelion”
11. “We’ll Die”
12. “A Message for Austin / Praise the Lord / Enter the Void”
Thundercat tour dates:
April 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex
April 21 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Ballroom *
April 23 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Heaven Stage) *
April 24 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel *
April 25 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *
April 26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
May 1 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Masonic Temple (Red Bull Music Academy)
May 5 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 (Red Bull Music Academy) +
May 6 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 (Red Bull Music Academy) +
May 12 – Boston, MA – Paradise *
May 13 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis *
May 15 – Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy *
May 16 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues Cleveland *
May 17 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom *
May 18 – Chicago, IL @ Metro *
May 19 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
May 22 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo *
May 23 – Vancouver, BC @ Vouge Theater *
May 24 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater *
May 25 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater *
* with Flying Lotus & Teebs
+ with Flying Lotus & Ultraísta
