Animal Collective band member Noah Lennox's (aka Panda Bear) cheery third solo album, Person Pitch, is a far cry from his previous album, Young Prayer. Crafted on the heels of his father's passing, Young Prayer was a deeply personal - though emotionally restrained - expression of mourning.
Person Pitch is heavily influenced by another moment in Lennox's life: a move from Brooklyn to Lisbon with his wife, where the two have begun to raise their first child. In the Animal Collective sense of out-there-ness then, consider Person Pitch as one would Lisbon's Tagus River.
Indeed, each of Person Pitch's eight tracks evokes the feeling of flowing, watery lightness. Despite the fact the songs were created over the span of two years, the album remains incredibly cohesive. Lennox relies on sampling and a unique delivery of his vocals to create the unity. By burying his vocals deep under layers of esoteric sounds and reverb, and limiting the lyrics, Lennox allows the listener to enjoy his superbly crafted grooves.
Existing outside of the traditional verse-hook-verse structure, Lennox opts for small movements within long tracks, and utilizes occasional chants in lieu of refrains. The repetitive lyrics keep the listener close, so we are not lost in the sudden shifts of the songs' tides. "Take Pills" shifts early from a slow, bass-driven groove to an exuberant pop jam using a number of unorthodox samples. Similarly effective are the shifts on "Bros" and "Good Girl/Carrots." By executing this original approach to pop music, Lennox effortlessly shares with us his joy, creating a terrific album.
- Leo C. Reilly
