Sonic Boom and Panda Bear’s sonic kinship has been one of indie rock’s best-kept secrets for just over a decade. Boom has been co-producing a select few of Panda Bear’s solo works since 2011 after Bear mentioned Boom’s first band Spacemen 3 as an influence on his work. This week they release Reset, a 40-minute journey through decades of influences that culminate in a spaced-out, minimalistic approach to electro-fused psychedelic rock.
The album, which follows Animal Collective’s (Panda Bear’s full band) 2022 LP, is so doused in subtlety you might miss a cascading synth or other small instrumental sections, so much so that you might not fully appreciate the idiosyncratic song structures that make Reset such a standout in each artist’s songbook. With the influence of Sonic Boom’s production, this collection of songs forces an untrained ear to question whether some of these spurts of electronic sounds are necessary, though they very much are.
This becomes clear right out the gate on the album’s opener “Gettin’ To The Point”. The up-tempo guitar strumming is accompanied by whirling radio signals that add depth to what would otherwise be a simple nod to Beatles-Esque melodies. It’s Boom’s approach to structure and texture that sets Reset apart from any other rock record released this year, the almost harsh digital sounds collide with simple pop harmonies to achieve a colorful, rich sound that full orchestras dream of.
The warmth that radiates from this record could grow a flower. Despite the sparse nature of the instrumentals, the duo is still able to create lush soundscapes that tattoo a smile on the listener’s face, taking a song like “Whirlpool” for example. The crescendo of the synths set the tone for smaller elements to interact with one another to create a detailed texture without adding in too many outside sounds. The simplicity in the production on Reset is the root cause of the unique charm that makes this such a compelling listen.
Reset is a quick, fun album for fans of the slightly avant-garde. While there isn’t too much excitement throughout the album, the overall tone of the Rest is what will keep you coming back. It’s relaxed and just off-kilter enough to keep each song sounding fresh without trying too hard.
