Breakdown of the Tracks at Panda Bear’s Gig in Berlin
Untitled 1 - Ah, another Panda prayer/chant type song. Bass is really heavy, melody is direct… this could make a good opener or closer to the new album. I’d expect a little more to it then.Untitled 2 - Ooh, these drums are nice. I’m getting excited! And then the guitar comes in… this is pretty slick. O man, the melody is TOTALLY unexpected from Panda. Same with that chord progression. This is really interesting (in a good way). Though, now that it’s sinking in, I’m not sure how much more he can really do with this one. But that drum beat is killer. As I let the verse melody (the base, step-down, step-back-up note progression) sink in, I’m not quite as sure about it. Hurm.
Untitled 3 - Ah, I remember this part from the end of Surfer’s Hymn, yes. Another Panda prayer. Perhaps this is still part of Surfer’s Hymn (or maybe not) but he switched its place in the song. Either way, I like this one. Very pretty. It doesn’t feel like much of a song, though the melody at 1:40 is incredibly beautiful. Feels like it would make a great segue type song. Or maybe an Animal Collective song if they continue down the Bleed route. Anyways, beautiful.
Untitled 4 (Surfer’s Hymn) - This is one of my favorite Panda melodies. I wish he’d hold the last note of each line a bit longer, like in the ATP bootleg. But man, this is still a killer song. It’s so forlorn and sad, yet chill and relaxing (like a day on the beach). When I play the melody on the guitar a little slower it turns into a really sad song, but I digress.
Daily Routine - I like that he kept slowing it down. It’s like he keeps hitting snooze on his day. But ultimately I like the studio cut more. Still a good take, and nice to hear the song without a 9-minute outro.
Untitled 5 - ooOOOoooo! Fun beat to start, and then a twisty, plinky guitar line much like in I Think I Can. This is more like what I was expecting after hearing I Think I Can. Nice melody, as is to be expected I suppose from Panda Bear. This actually is somewhat similar to that most recent AC song, though this one might be a bit more interesting. I almost feel as if this song would be better served as a more upbeat song - a little faster, and with more and more varied drums to it.
Untitled 6 - Not much to say about this one. Chill, but that’s about all I have to say about it. That, and it sounds like a good dream.
Untitled 7 - We will, we will rock you- o wait, he started singing, and it’s not Queen. Another chill jam. Better melody than the last one, and I liked that one. Wow, what a high note. Impressive. That song was chill as shit.
Untitled 8 - Ah, a seemingly more upbeat song! This is exciting! Indeed, this is killer. Almost reggae, with that interjecting guitar. This song was awesome.
Untitled 9 (Final song from ATP) - WOAH, where did that beat come from?! It’s like an entirely different song now! Way better than the last time I heard it. Indeed, it seems more fleshed out. That guitar line is pretty sick too… It’s got an almost middle-eastern quality to it.
Untitled 10 - This is balling. Probably the only song I wouldn’t want to see much change to. That drum beat is f’ing awesome. Probably my favorite song, as is, from the set.
The whole set is avilable for download.
