It’s almost exactly a year since Animal Collective treated us to a hugely enjoyable psych-pop extravaganza in Tripod. Now, Panda Bear has returned, sans his bandmates, for this highly anticipated solo outing. Mr. Bear (aka Noah Lennox) covers much the same terrain in his own music as he does with the Collective; heavy on psychedelia, experimental electronics and distorted guitar, hold the choruses.
However, what he lacks in song structure he more than makes up in sheer musical adventure. Throughout his hour-long performance (which I actually think is just the right length for this type of show), he provides us with a beautifully hypnotic suite of dreamy harmonies, swirling electro effects and danceable rhythms. It also helps that the visuals – essentially a montage of blissful, sun-kissed images – complement the music perfectly.
Animal Collective are rightly regarded as a pioneering group within the US underground. With this stellar gig, Lennox has once again demonstrated that he really is smarter than the average bear.