Two decades since debuting as the masked-and-nicknamed drummer and vocalist of Animal Collective, Noah Lennox has led so many creative lives, navigated so many different styles, and been part of so many beloved recordings that it can be easy to overlook just how consistent his artistic vision has remained.
From landmark solo albums like Person Pitch (2007) and Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper (2015) to breakthroughs with Animal Collective such as Sung Tongs (2004) and Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009), Lennox has continually shaped the landscape of modern music. His collaborations with Daft Punk, Solange, Dean Blunt, and Paramore have further cemented his influence across genres.
Now, Lennox returns with Sinister Grift, his first solo album in five years—an album that feels both cumulative and unprecedented in his catalog. While his past solo records have ranged from starkly intimate expressions of grief to vibrant electronic opuses, this latest release is his warmest and most immediate yet. Working in his Lisbon home studio alongside Animal Collective bandmate Josh “Deakin” Dibb, Lennox reinvents Panda Bear as something akin to an old-school rock ensemble, playing nearly all the instruments himself. He also invites kindred spirits into the process, including Cindy Lee, Rivka Ravede of Spirit of the Beehive, and—for the first time on a Panda Bear solo album—all of his Animal Collective bandmates.
This June, Panda Bear brings Sinister Grift to life with a special performance at Gorilla. Expect a set that blends the hypnotic, textural richness of his latest work with the transcendent, genre-defying energy that has made him a defining voice in experimental music. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see a true innovator at work.
