Review: Panda Bear - Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper
By Sammi Nelson, Blogs Editor
[Domino; 2015]
Rating: 6/10
Key Tracks: “Sequential Circuits,” “Mr Noah,” “Boys Latin"
After almost four years since his previous album Tomboy dropped, musician Panda Bear brings in 2015 with the release of his latest album Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper. Despite the quasi-cryptic name, the album boasts bright and colorful elements in the psychedelic electronica for which Panda Bear is known.
Hypnotic experimental tones never cease to accentuate Panda Bear’s style, and Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper isn’t an exception. The musician paints a vibrant image with the album, perfectly placing each song to complement the flow and storytelling of the music. At times, the album becomes boisterous and dancey, while other moments capture a tranquil mood within the notes.
Despite the bevy of experimental elements and variety Panda Bear includes in his music, specifically this album, his latest LP becomes boring at times at times as tracks start to blend together because of how similar they sound.
The album starts with “Sequential Circuits,” which is an incredibly well placed opening track. It opens with trickling chimes and synth hums before Panda Bear’s warm, albeit haunting, voice begins singing. The song has somewhat of an aquatic touch to its sound, which comes from its rippling neo-psychedelic tones.
Following the opening track is “Mr. Noah,” the first single from the album. The track contains multiple overlapping dog howls with an upbeat tempo, which creates an interesting effect that makes it hard to determine whether the song is either eerie or catchy.
“Boys Latin” is the second single from Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper and arguably one of the most hypnotic songs on the entire album. While the lyrics are repetitive, their delivery produces an audible wave with each word.
Over seven minutes long, “Come To Your Senses” is the longest and one of the best tracks on the album. In the refrain of the song, Panda Bear repeats the question, “Are you mad?” before he confirms that yes, he is in fact mad. The song serves as a great representation of the entire album with its eclectic sounds and lyrics that question sanity.
It’s after “Come To Your Senses” that the album begins to grow boring. Although a fun and dancey song, the tempo and electronic elements of “Principe Real” sound too much like the musical effects featured in “Come to Your Senses” and “Crosswords,” another earlier track on the album.
With Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper, Panda Bear has created an album that, despite its boring moments, listeners almost always should to listen to in its entirety to fully experience its sound. By doing so, listeners can appreciate the songs that complement each other but can also zone out and relax while listening to the album.
