When Panda Bear happened to cross paths with the Grim Reaper they decided to have a jamming session, the results of which led to the creation of his latest album, the aptly-titled Panda Bear Meet the Grim Reaper – the fifth solo studio release from Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear. As has come to be expected from the Animal Collective musician, the album has his typical false-nonchalance and a sound which is as much pop as it is psychedelic. The hypnotic and often withdrawn style is not an indication of laziness, but has been a feature of Lennox’s sound since his fourth solo effort Tomboy (2011). Since the release of Person Pitch in 2007, each new release from Panda Bear has been met with feverish excitement, even more so since his collaboration with Daft Punk on Doin’ It Right from their smash-hit album Random Access Memories. Panda Bear Meet the Grim Reaper sees him leave behind the delicate minimalism of Tomboy as he reopens his sonic toolbox and remixes his multitude of influences to form a bubbling musical potion. Textures and techniques from old-school hip-hop are blended with the cyclical melodies which have become his hallmark to create a dense and radiant sound. The album itself was recorded all over, from El Paso in Texas to a beachside garage near to Lisbon, where Lennox lives. This slightly mad genius has once again teamed up with Sonic Boom, a collaboration which proved so fruitful on Tomboy and which has been pushed even further here. Panda Bear Meet the Grim Reaper is a transitional record for an artist who has shown that he can continue to evolve whilst staying at the top of his game.
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