Panda Bear Releases Sinister Grift

It's always a good day when I discover that there is new music from Panda Bear. It hits all the marks for me; nods to the classics, modern concepts, sounds and presentations, and exceptional vocals and vocal harmonies.

Panda Bear's (aka Noah Lennox) latest release, Sinister Grift, is a logical progression from his recent work with Sonic Boom (aka Pete Kember) on their collaborative album, Reset. That release featured Pete's song constructions built from sampling classic recordings from the '50s and '60s from artists like The Drifters, Everly Brothers, The Troggs, and more. Noah's melodies and lyrics over these tracks made for a wonderful listen, and it still gets heavy spins in our abode.

On Sinister Grift, Lennox relies on more traditional instrumentation such as live drums, acoustic guitars, electric bass, and a sprinkling of synths to create a world that is both classic and decidedly modern. His Brian Wilson/Beach Boys/Everly Brothers-inspired vocals are the centerpiece of the compositions, but leaning into the productions reveals a modern approach to the sounds and mixes.

Acoustic guitars through amps, dubby echoes on the drums, and elements like a trumpet solo mangled almost beyond recognition through what sounds like a Shure Level-Loc, make for a listening experience that keeps you wondering what is around the next corner.

Recorded at his studio in Lisbon, Portugal, Lennox played almost all of the instruments on the album, but it also includes appearances from Cindy Lee, Rivka Ravede, and all of the members of his band Animal Collective. Sinister Grift was produced by Noah Lennox and Josh Dibb, mixed by Josh Dibb with assistance from Paul Mercer, and mastered by Heba Kadry.

We interviewed Panda Bear and Sonic Boom in 2023 for Tape Op #156, and you can listen to our podcast with the two of them HERE.