Panda Bear: "Mr Noah"
The song comes in slowly—its unsteady, airy electronics surge in and out of frame. There’s the sound of a dog whimpering and barking one room over. It’s unsettling, and even with the tone seemingly set, it’s still unclear which version of Panda Bear is going to show up when “Mr Noah” inevitably finds its footing. Will it be the Noah Lennox who made echoing, heavenly soundscapes on Person Pitch? Whose voice lent a warm glow to “Walkabout”? The guy who has delivered spacey festival sets and songs with names like “Drone” that only make subtle, gradual shifts? The commanding, gleaming voice on Daft Punk’s “Doin’ It Right”?
When “Mr Noah” takes shape, it happens all at once: There’s a persistent thump over a muffled glob of melody; an undercurrent of buzzing Wooden Shjips psychedelia; the beat gives a soulful head-nod. The most crucial element is that voice, which takes the song from a warped, Sonic Boom-assisted beat to a great Panda Bear song (it’s so nice to hear him again). As usual, his voice is urgent, each syllable punched-out and slightly off-kilter, seeming to come from on high. Even when his melodies feel unsteady, they’re purposefully unsteady, still operating strictly within the confines of the beat. His “ay-ay-ay-ay” vowels slide, but one word becomes four distinct chunks, offering percussive utility and an instantly memorable hook. If you’re so inclined, you might even be able to dance to this one—not necessarily a fate predicted by Tomboy. If Panda Bear is, in fact, staring down the grim reaper, he apparently learned the same thing Flying Lotus did: death can make for a riveting adventure.
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