Panda Bear  - Sinister Grift

An artist firmly anchored in leftfield indie’s vibrant echelons for two decades now, Panda Bear’s solo work to date has largely rooted itself in a sort of introversion. Sprawling and hypnotic, it’s often so immersive at times to become almost isolating. ‘Sinister Grift’, however, presents itself in opposition to this, with a breezy, lived-in warmth. 
 

Using more straightforward structures and instrumentation here than on 2019 predecessor ‘Buoys’, the record took shape in Lennox’s Portugal-based home studio with fellow Animal Collective bandmate Josh ‘Deakin’ Dibb, before enlisting further collaborators including Spirit Of The Beehive’s Rivka Ravede and cult underground pop figure Cindy Lee. The results tap into a rich well of emotion, with optimistic opener ‘Praise’, the vaulting harmonies of ‘Just As Well’ and the solemn, reverberating ‘Left In The Cold’ doing this in particular. Closer ‘Defense’ sits perfectly in context too, with its slow, assured ascent. As an artist, Panda Bear’s penchant for innovation has always seemed to conflate seamlessly with his distinctive creative vision. On ‘Sinister Grift’, this takes a more accessible form, showcasing the robustness of his songwriting and ultimately cementing itself as a complete and vivid work.