Unusually Noah Lennox’s solo career hasn’t followed the traditional path – the one usually consisting of a key member of a hugely successful band (Thom Yorke), a mid-tier one (Kele Okereke) or a not-so-successful one (Miles Kane) breaking away to either completely sever ties with the former group or have the two projects work in conjunction.
As is his way, it’s a variation of a well-told tale.
Lennox has been operating under the moniker of Panda Bear for over two decades, releasing his self-titled debut album back in 1999. Although like most self-released debuts it was an unassuming, lo-fi effort that didn’t make huge waves, it was a key first step in his story. Shortly afterwards, he collaborated with Avey Tare for an album that was retroactively classed as the first for Animal Collective.
Since then, such is the free-following nature of the collective, the lines have become blurred as to what constitutes solo albums and what constitutes band projects; although he hasn’t left the group, last year’s Tangerine Reef marked Animal Collective’s first album without Lennox. Although he hasn’t left. Clear?
During his solo career Lennox has released a number of albums, the most notable of which, 2007’s Person Pitch, was met with critical acclaim and subsequently a permanent slot on ‘Influenced By…’ lists. Two more albums and three EPs of the by now trademark psychedelic electronic pop have followed. In contrast, for this sixth offering, Lennox has stripped away the swirl of effects and broken the sound down to guitar, bass and vocals, with some textured samples liberally sprinkled across its 31 minutes.
Opening with recent single Dolphin, the sparseness sets a precedent. Lennox’s vocals seem to have gone backwards through the hedge that is Auto-Tune, backed by only a gentle acoustic and a rather irritating water dripping sound. Several other background noises pop up at various points, the most notable being a female crying on Inner Monologue, all lending themselves to make the album both intimate and alien.
Initially sounding quite congested, Buoys rewards after multiple lessons, revealing itself it to be dub-like in its atmosphere, being more about evoking feelings and thoughts rather than amazing with its dexterity. It’s mid-paced, enabling the album to flow together well, each song following the tone of its predecessor but adjusting the emotional course ever so slightly.
The gentle, spindly acoustic guitar sound is the only permanent setting across the nine songs, so tonally it’s more of a piece than an album. Indeed, Lennox himself admits he was looking to find a single vocal take and then add Auto-Tune effects afterwards. It’s melodically straight-forward, although every now and again something stands out, the highlight being the gorgeous chorus on Token.
Thematically and lyrically, in his own obtuse way Lennox is addressing the present-day climate and the problems younger generations will inherit. The title is a metaphor for human emotion, being both the definition of humanity but also ever so slightly repressed, floating primarily beneath the surface.
Panda Bear has opened another insight into his soul. He’s left us no clearer, but emotionally fulfilled.
