There are certain fine words that I could use to sum up this record. Delicate? Quite. Articulate? Very. Godly? Almost. Yes of course, “very” and “quite” are indeed fine words at their best, but it is the term pure electro-acid pop that just about sums up Panda Bear's third solo album Person Pitch. As far as eccentrically soothing experimental music goes, it's certainly a fine piece of work that Brian Wilson would be very glad to have influenced.
Panda Bear is the pseudonym of Animal Collective drummer Noah Lennox. This is the album that really defines him as a prime solo artist. Obviously as a member of Animal Collective, we would expect a fair amount of electronic music influence; although Panda Bear's techno influence is much more extended. It also seems that the guy has a big knack for coming up with some exceptional ideas.
The music is a fond marriage of the experimentation of much repetition and Panda Bear's history of influences (musical and otherwise). In "Take Pills", the first half of the song takes us on a journey of articulate loops of a guitar and tambourine with sounds of machines working. The second half is then presented with a lift off of Panda Bear's fine vocal melodies which he allowed to reverberate heavily in an example of his marvelous songwriting regarding his struggles with antidepressants.
Person Pitch is fun, delicate, and dreamy electronic music that reminds listeners of an ocean of...oh how should I put this...Beach Boy-ness. Panda Bear pieces together a busy mesh of attractive melodies and psychedelic loops and samples to resemble something deeply personal. This is one of the few records/artists that is able to pull off an experimental, unique, and exciting persona without turning into complete shit. Person Pitch is an inspiration of inspirations.
