When Noah Lennox aka Panda Bear released his solo album ‘Person Pitch’, few could have guessed that it would become one of the most influential albums of the past decade, only rivaled by the achievements of his own band, Animal Collective. Its psychedelic loops, walls of distortion and sample-based tunes have been a source of inspiration for many a young artist since.
Following up a classic album is never easy. Lennox has announced his intention to leave the samples behind and focus on a more organic guitar and rhythm approach to song writing. Like he did with his former work, the album is being anticipated by a series of limited edition 7” singles released through different labels. We have already enjoyed the title track ‘Tomboy’ and his b-side ‘Slow Days’; as well as ‘You Can Count On Me/Alsatian Darn’. The third one in the series –and last before the album- is called ‘Last Night At The Jetty’ and offers another taste of musical greatness with the distinctive Panda Bear multilayered vocals trademark. You can listen to the single here.
‘Last Night At The Jetty/Drone’ will be released on December the 6th via FatCat. A release date for ‘Tomboy’ is yet to be confirmed.
With the last batch of artists announced yesterday, the San Miguel Primavera Sound festival has a superb line-up for its tenth anniversary, held from the 27th to the 29th of May in the Parc Del Fòrum of Barcelona.
The popular independent music event has been generating a growing buzz since both Pavement and Pixies were confirmed as headliners – thus putting two of the most eagerly anticipatedreunion tours of recent times at centre stage.
The organisers of San Miguel Primavera Sound launched a poll for fans to vote for past acts they would like to see play the festival again. The winners included the fore-mentioned Pavement and Pixies; Wilco; Shellac; Orbital and Panda Bear from Animal Collective. Other heavily influential artists such as The Pet Shop Boys, Gary Numan, Marc Almond, Les Savy Fav, The Slits, Sunny Day Real State and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry have also been confirmed. Added to this Low will be performing their classic album ‘The Great Destroyer’ in full and Charlatans will do the same with their LP, ‘Some Friendly’.
Hendrick Weber has been releasing under monikers such as Glühen 4 and Panthel through the influential German electronic label Dial for some time; but it’s as Pantha Du Prince he’s gained most recognition. The DJ and producer’s mix of minimal techno with elements of British shoegaze and Detroit house create very personal electronic soundscapes and have won him much critical acclaim. His third album, ‘Black Noise’ – released by British indie label Rough Trade – is earning Pantha Du Prince unanimous praise for both staying faithful to his roots and expanding in ways that may appeal to a wider audience. Highlights include collaborations with LCD Soundsystem and !!!’sTyler Pope ‘The Splendour’; and with Noah Lennox – AKA Animal Collective’s Panda Bear - who adds a touch of psychedelic colour to the ethereal beauty of ‘Stick To My Side’.
‘Stick To My Side’ and the whole ‘Black Noise’ album are available now via Itunes.
Not content with topping the majority of ‘Album of the Year’ polls, Animal Collective have released a jaw dropping new video to accompany album track ‘Brothersport’. The playful, dreamlike sequence fits perfectly with the song, following two children as we dip in and out of an animated fantasy world. Midway the clip evolves into an almost disorienting section involving florescent egg yolks. While this may sound strange on paper, it actually works. Although the worry of inducing headaches has never troubled Animal Collective, as anyone who’s longingly stared at the artwork for ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’ can testify.
In other Animal Collective news, Panda Bear and erstwhile member Deakin have recently announced solo tours later this year. Read on for the full list of dates. Read more…
Barcelona’s popular San Miguel Primavera Sound festival has just announced the first batch of artists for their 10th anniversary edition, which will take place on May 27th-29th. Panda Bear; Wilco and The New Pornographers, among others, will be joining the already confirmed Pixies and Pavement on what’s shaping up as one of the best line-ups in 2010.
As part of the celebrations, the organizers have asked the fans to vote for their favourite artists of the nearly finished decade. The 10 most popular will be invited to be part of the event. You can check the promising results to date in the festival website’s forums.
The full line-up so far includes:
THE ANTLERS BIS THE BLOODY BEETROOTS CAMARON, LA LEYENDA DEL TIEMPO 30 AñOS DESPUES DELOREAN DUM DUM GIRLS THE FALL GANGLIANS HERE WE GO MAGIC HOPE SANDOVAL & THE WARM INVENTIONS JOKER FEAT. NOMAD THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS PANDA BEAR PAVEMENT PIXIES WILCO WILD BEASTS THE XX
The event will be also holding its cosier autumn version, “Primavera Club”, on December 9th-13th. Full list of participating bands can be checked at MySpace.
It was only a matter of time until these two heroes of the blogosphere would join forces. And this is it, Deerhunter’s lead singer Bradford Cox and Noah Lennox aka Panda Bear, the most renowned member of Animal Collective, have teamed up to create one of the best songs we have heard this year.
“Walkabout” is the first taster of Cox’s second album under his Atlas Sound moniker, Logos, to be released next October. It was created while the two musicians’ respective bands were touring Europe together and came across the track “What I Am Going To Do” by cult sixties Santa Barbara garage/folk-rock band, The Dovers. They decided to sample it, and upon that they have built up this joyful tune; much in the sunny, psychedelic manner of Panda Bear’s acclaimed solo album, “Person’s Pitch”.
