The last Animal Collective LP, 2012’s middling Centipede Hz, suffered from a severe lack of Panda Bear, aka Noah Lennox. I don’t use the label ‘psychedelic’ lightly, if at all, but there’s really no other way to describe the chugging, garbled riff that forms a stream throughout the fairly excellent Mr Noah. It’s a fun sojourn, with residual elements of anxiety occasionally bubbling in the lyrics. It’s the lead track from Panda Bear VS The Grim Reaper, an album title signalling at a more carefree inhibition. While AnCo’s track record took a bit of a derailing, Panda Bear’s solo efforts have been invariably rewarding.
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