Panda Bear: Tomboy

Label: Paw Tracks

It wasn't hard to guess that for one of the most anticipated releases of the year, NYer in exile Panda Bear would play it somewhat safe: The first song on Tomboy, the follow-up to the Animal's breakout hit Person Pitch, is even called "You Can Count on Me," a warm sentiment embedded in Panda's trademark billowy vocals and tricked-out echoes. From there—thankfully—he simply pushes at the edges of a gorgeous and unique sound that is his and his alone. It's pop that winks at both classic harmony groups of the '60s and a pulsating techno impetus that's made him friends with the Kompakt label (did you get the 7-inch?). "Slow Motion" stands out as one track where he finds arresting new ways to play with his toolbox (melody, repetition, solar energy), while "Drone" bends its namesake mode toward pop by stretching an achingly beautiful vocal part through a dense but complementary soundfield. Fans of Person Pitch didn't want a bold new direction; we wanted more of the not-quite-same and a handful of new ideas in Panda-style, and Tomboy delivers all that awesomely.