Panda Bear - "Praise"

Panda Bear's latest solo album has arrived and the opening number is one of his strongest in years.

Sinister Grift is the name of the new album by Noah Lennox, best known as Panda Bear, but when you press play or drop the needle on the opening track, you're sent for a bit of a loop. Suddenly we're hit with bright, euphoric '60s bubble-gum pop that radiates with sunshine and endlessly good vibes, instantly making it one of the most jubilant and playful tracks we've heard from Panda Bear in quite some time. There's tropical surf side elements sprinkled in as well that add to the track's phenomenal charm and the entire thing is an all-out blissful experience, warm and welcoming at every kaleidoscopic twist. The stark contrast of the buoyant and flowing rhythms of opener "Praise" when compared to the slow march of the excellent closer "Defense" perfectly sums up the journey of the album and spring-loading it with a number as immediate as this one.

Sinister Grift is out now.