In just over a year and three albums, Brooklyn-based
Animal Collective have
shot up to underground fame, gaining considerable respect
for their off-beat folk songs and experimental approach
on the way. Led by Arve Tare and Panda Bear, Animal
Collective is an unpredictable formation. In turn
duo, trio or quartet, the Collective appears as free
in spirit as their music is in form. Claiming influences
from Dylan, the Beach Boys and The Incredible String
Band to name but a few, Animal
Collective have developed a sound all of their own,
essentially based around acoustic drones, incantations
and tribal drumming.
Although the band’s first couple of albums, Spirit
They’ve Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished
and Danse Manatee, were originally released
in 2000 and 2001 respectively, it is very much with
the consecutive publication of the near-perfect Here
Comes The Indian, on the band’s own label,
Paw Tracks, and the lo-fi Campfire
Songs (Catsup Plate), together with the re-release
of the band’s first two albums collected on a
double CD by Fat-Cat
Records in 2003, that the band’s rise started
to gather pace.
As echoes of the Collective’s recent Sung
Tongs still resonate loud and clear, comes
this solo effort from Panda Bear (real name Noah Lennox).
Recorded in 2002 following the death of his father,
Young Prayer is a far more reflective and personal
record. Lasting just under half an hour and featuring
nine untitled tracks, Young Prayer is characteristically
soulful and organic, with very little more than an acoustic
guitar, a voice and occasional percussions for the listener
to hang on to. The stark beauty of these nine compositions
is a testament of Lennox’s creative spirit, and
rests partly on his vocal performance. More lamentations
than actual singing, the voice becomes integrant part
of each track, in turn drone-like or melodic, monotone
or colourful, conveying emotions with intensity and
drawing evocative vignettes over acoustic shards. Panda
Bear is not scared of letting silences penetrate his
songs. This actually gives substance to the record very
much in the same way as street noises were adding to
the fragility of the live recordings on Campfire
Songs. In fact, both albums deal with external
elements with the same intensity, incorporating any
unplanned event into their sonic canvas.
Despite the evident emotional stress hanging over Young
Prayer, this is actually a very uplifting record.
Panda Bear creates, with part-time Animal
Collective member Deakin, a truly palpable and inspiring
soundtrack, applying stunning textures and tones to
his music and developing his songs around surprisingly
clear narratives. As the mood is restrained, with beautiful
introvert moments, Panda Bear seizes the opportunity
of this solo recording to affirm his artistic identity
away from Animal Collective,
yet reinforcing in the same breath his position within
the band.
4.5/5 |
