★★★☆☆
Three Stars
Noah Lennox, better known as Panda Bear, co-founder of the psychedelic group Animal Collective, returns with his fifth solo album after a three-year hiatus. The LP mostly follows on from its predecessor Tomboy, with a preference for synth loops and whirring sound effects. But perhaps the most notable moment is the ethereal ballad ‘Tropic of Cancer’, an especially poignant moment reflecting on the effects of disease on loved ones. A timely reminder of his impeccable voice, backed by a looped sample from The Nutcracker, this is the best song here by some margin.
For much of Grim Reaper, Lennox’s expressive tenor is shrouded by his favourite production tools and indeed ‘Tropic of Cancer’ is one of precious few moments where Panda Bear departs from his modus operandi. Rather, he sticks with what he does best: simple, repetitive psychedelic pop tunes, and the call-and-response vocal hook of ‘Boys Latin’ is a highlight. Unfortunately, though, atmosphere is far too often prioritised over coherent songwriting, an interesting bass squelch or melody left undeveloped, and several tracks do little to justify their run times.
There is certainly enough material here to make this an enjoyable listen, but Lennox could have achieved something closer to his best work had he stepped out of his comfort zone a little more often on this record.
