As the year winds down, critics have begun compiling their, “Best of 2007″ lists. On the “top albums†lists, one is going to find Panda Bear’s (aka Noah Lennox’s) Person Pitch come up frequently.
On the inside cover of Person Pitch is a list of “thank you’s†that includes a number of artists. The top two are, Basic Channel and Luomo, minimal techno artists. This is not surprising considering Person Pitch is a sampled album. In basic structure, it’s not that different from what one may find on a minimal techno record, but the rub is in the samples Panda Bear has chosen. Rather then blips and bleeps, one is going to find claps, voices from a choir, a roller coaster, someone crying, an owl, guitars, Panda Bear’s vocals, which sound eerily similar to Brian Wilson’s, and interestingly enough, sounds and instruments that are reminiscent of those used in Pet Sounds (see Bros and Ponytail).
One thing this decade will be remembered for is the way artists are beginning to use digital technology to do new and different things with samples. Girl Talk and A-trak are examples of this, so are Panda Bear and Animal Collective, though in a completely different light. Girl Talk and A-trak use them to make the ultimate mix-tape. Panda Bear uses samples to convert into an album his appreciation of different experiences and influences. Person Pitch is not just a beautiful record, its also a personal statement about being an artist and how one should conduct himself as such.
“get your head out from those mags
and websites who try to
shape your style
take a risk just for yourself
and wade into the deep end of the oceanâ€
February 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
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