About this item

Panda Bear and Sonic Boom’s second album together, 'A ? Of When', maintains the sense of musical play brought forth in their triumphant 2022 debut, 'Reset'. It is built on loops of harp (Mary Lattimore) and sequences of steel drum, webs of pedal steel and even bits of a mariachi band. These are, of course, deliberate choices, sounds and textures they’ve never used and that offered a clear sonic break from the success of 'Reset'.

But maybe more than ever, Sonic Boom and Panda Bear emerge through these 10 songs as two people with frank opinions about these times, with a real stake in the sway of the world. These tunes grapple with online exhaustion and pervasive depression, with political chicanery and ecological sustainability, all while advocating for respecting the power of luck and giving one another grace in a moment when very few of us actually know what the hell is happening. Has it ever been easier to complain publicly about something without trying to change it? Sonic Boom and Panda Bear are not content to gripe about circumstances or speculate about the fall on 'A ? Of When'. The goal is for the music to create physical connections between people, to encourage them to enjoy a real experience in the world with it and each other.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Panda Bear & Sonic Boom's second collaborative endeavour is a love letter to 60's pop, rock and the harmony-heavy vocal style of the Beach Boys, all wrapped in their uniquely experimental coating. Treble-heavy synth swells and lysergic instrumental blooms mixed with whimsical found-sound percussion and jangling, joyous guitars.

Album Launch Party

Join us at 5pm on Tuesday 7th July for an exclusive sneak preview of the entire album, ahead of it's release on Friday 10th.

We'll have some lovely goodies to give away at the event too:

Bumper stickers (two different designs)
A Panda Bear / Sonic Boom newsprint (a news paper which Pete Kember has designed featuring essays, cartoons etc.
Lucky Charms (a metal pendant for chains/ keys/ zippers)

See you there!

TRACK LISTING

1. Never Givin’ In
2. Lucky Charm
3. Revive Him
4. Something Like Dreaming
5. A ? Of When
6. Pray To You
7. Be The Bridge
8. Like A Moth To The Flame
9. Somethin’ That Lasts
10. Graveyard