Panda Bear: Person Pitch

Label: Paw Tracks

“Wonderful, joyous, endlessly inventive and unfailingly melodic – Panda Bear’s Person Pitch is a cinch to go down as one of the best records of 2007.” That’s what we wrote back in March, and whaddya know, we were right! A member of the beloved Animal Collective, Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) here explores his love of Brian Wilson-flavored pop more than ever, but with plenty of experimentalism in sounds and rhythms that were the trademarks of AC classics Sung Tongs and Feels. The album collects many of Panda Bear’s recent singles as well as some brand-new tracks; the centerpiece is the sublime “Bros,” 12 minutes of jingles and harmonies that never lags despite its epic length. Elsewhere Person Pitch is full of jagged-yet-cohesive samples, pulsating rhythms, ethnic flare, and layers of comfy tones, from owls to ice-cream-truck jingles to chants. As much of a treat as any Animal Collective material yet clearly a departing unique and singular take on their twisted-pop sound world. Absolutely essential in every way. (Adam)