Adrian's Album Reviews

Panda Bear



Person Pitch 9 ( 2007 )
Comfy In Nautica / Take Pills / Bros / I'm Not / Good Girl/Carrots / Search For Delicious / Ponytail

Panda Bear, Noah Lennox of Animal Collective has released an album of bliss. Many have made comparisons with 'Pet Sounds' and there are echoes, sure. Indeed, there are lots of echoes in general, the vocals are like the reflection of the sun from the water floating back up towards the sun again. It's not so much Brian Wilson as Bruce Johnston, but that's hardly a major pain. This is an album quite unlike any other i've recently heard, you see. Indeed, the only comparison I make isn't with 'Pet Sounds' but a little known act known as Butterfly Child. They made an album fifteen years ago which this has a vague likeness to. It's better than Butterfly Child, though. There's a concentrated outpouring of emotion, acheived by two SP-303 samplers ( music ) and vocals. I say vocals rather than lyrics, the lyrics that are here are minimal, largely wordless or almost wordless, another language it seems at times as the vocals rise up from their reflections. The effect of ghostly vocals, at times ghostly music is almost like you're listening to memories or listening to somebody else's dream. Perhaps Panda Bear have unlocked the secret of transmitting thoughts, dreams and imagination straight down to tape. At least, that what large portions of the album actually sound like. Another thing to bear in mind if you are considering sampling this album. Don't sample this album, it's a work that demands to be listened to in full, only that way does the album reveal its true self. Again, so rare these days to find an album that isn't merely a bunch of semi or even unrelated tunes bunched together onto a CD. Oh, another album this reminds me of, not such a recent one, though. Joe Meek 'I Hear A New World'.

There's two tracks here that last in excess of twelve minutes and provide the real meat on display. The other tracks work to build the atmosphere inbetween. Nice atmosphere, frequently lovely atmosphere. 'Bros' is wonderful and words fail me. Phil Spector is in the hall, Brian Wilson in the bathroom and a voice is appearing coming in through the window. No one is quite sure whether it's birdsong but it sounds like a man in a mountain singing lullabies. It's Christmas somewhere but it's also summer. I did say the album was hard to explain. 'Good Girl/Carrots' works like musical poetry. 'Good Girl' flows into 'Carrots' which flows back into 'Good Girl' to close. Parts of the tune sound like electronic act Autechre, somewhat impressively. Soon, a carnival is in town. Lots of sights and sounds and we're having fun. Watching and interacting and smiling. If Joe Meek was thirty years old now with access to todays equipment he'd make music like this. There's little higher praise from me. Just to wind up the atmosphere and the dream-like, tranquil beautiful sound, a childs music box briefly appears. Is it an ice-cream van? I can't quite see what's properly around the corner, the image is blurry. It keeps fading in and out between colour and black and white. I keep rewinding the dream to the beginning and making slowly more sense of it but it keeps retaining it's mystery. It's just long enough to do so.

Share Your Views?

Readers Comments Albert Woods asjwoods@gmail.com Nice images there, and pretty much bang on with the score. You should really check out some Animal Collective records next, as alot of them are even better than this! I'd particularly be interested in hearing your thoughts on 'Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished', in my opinion one of the only perfect albums of the decade so far. Although I think the next one might be even better based on the live stuff I've heard. But I'm waffling! They're just great musicians, easily the best band making music today. Check them out. John, County Kildare john.j.doyle@nuim.ie A lot of people here on this site are pencilling in this one as album of the year. Hmm.... maybe so, but I think Isobel Campbell, Cold War Kids, Tinariwen, Kings Of Leon etc, may have something to say about that. From what I've heard of this album though, it's close to flawless, not the most original sound, but that's just cheap nitpicking on my behalf. A 9/10 at the very least, and I've still to buy it yet......