Flying Lotus – Pattern & Grid World review

After the “next level jazz shit” of Cosmogramma, you’d forgive Flying Lotus for a taking some time out and maybe hit some clubs in LA to find his next Brainfeeder signee. Instead he’s spent the past few months scouring the inner workings of his clearly impressive musical brain to deliver Pattern & Grid World, seven tracks of expansive machine funk futurism. Commencing with the hazy mist of psychedelic soul synths flourishes and intricate beat patterns that is “Clay” Ellison demonstrate an ever increasing array of beat poetry. “Kill Your Co-Workers” marries tinny drum and bass programming with an ever expanding opulence of joyous melodies whilst “Pie Face” drops outer galactic grime syncopation over kaleidoscopic bass patterns. “Time Vampires” could soundtrack the astro travelling Lord Quas referred to on the classic Madlib album The Unseen whilst “Jurassic Notion/ M Theory” splays wonked out afro percussion over belly level schizoid bass lines. The final rhythmic jolt of “Physics For Everyone” replete with head first plunges into industrial bass makes this a bewitching complement to Ellison’s highly lauded album.

Tony Poland