Hey Panda

Last updated

Hey Panda
The High Llamas - Hey Panda.png
Studio album by
Released29 March 2024 (2024-03-29)
Length39:50
Label Drag City
Producer Sean O'Hagan
The High Llamas chronology
Here Come the Rattling Trees
(2016)
Hey Panda
(2024)

Hey Panda is the eleventh studio album by the Anglo-Irish avant-pop band the High Llamas, released on 29 March 2024 through Drag City. It is the band's first album in eight years, since the release of Here Come the Rattling Trees in 2016.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 89/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
Uncut 9/10 [5]

Hey Panda received a score of 89 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on five critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [1] Uncut called it "beautifully now", [5] while Mojo wrote that it "may seem whimsical at first, but its depth is all the grander for the work it takes to mine its many gems". [3] MusicOMH 's Steven Johnson stated that Hey Panda "reinforces the view that O'Hagan is a special composer and bandleader of note. It sees him push himself creatively further than he's ever done to date, delivering a unique, fascinating, compelling album in the process". [4]

Ryan Dillon of Glide Magazine felt that "these twelve songs carry the weight of time as it feels like we are reintroduced to the band despite their storied tenure as pop's most unpredictable offering strikes again with ambitious concepts executed to the highest order". [6]

Year-end lists

Select year-end rankings for Hey Panda
Publication/criticAccoladeRankRef.
Uncut 80 Best Albums of 202423 [7]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Sean O'Hagan, except "How the West Was Won" with lyrics by Will Oldham; all music is composed by O'Hagan.

Hey Panda track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Hey Panda"3:32
2."Fall Off the Mountain"2:41
3."Bade Amey"3:04
4."Sisters Friends" (featuring Rae Morris)3:24
5."How the Best Was Won" (featuring Bonnie "Prince" Billy)2:59
6."The Grade"3:09
7."Yoga Goat"2:53
8."Stone Cold Slow"3:16
9."Toriafan"3:21
10."Hungriest Man" (featuring Bonnie "Prince" Billy)5:01
11."The Water Moves"2:48
12."La Masse" (featuring Fryars)3:42
Total length:39:50

Personnel

The High Llamas

Additional contributors

Charts

Chart performance for Hey Panda
Chart (2024)Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [8] 64

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stereolab</span> English-French avant-pop band

Stereolab are an Anglo-French avant-pop band formed in London in 1990. Led by the songwriting team of Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, the group's sound features influences from krautrock and 1960s French pop music, often incorporating a repetitive motorik beat with the use of vintage electronic keyboards and female vocals sung in English and French. Their lyrics have political and philosophical themes influenced by the Surrealist and Situationist art movements. While performing, they play in a more feedback-driven and guitar-oriented style. From the mid-1990s, the band began to draw from funk, jazz and Brazilian music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean O'Hagan</span> Musical artist

Sean O'Hagan is an Irish singer and songwriter who leads the avant-pop band the High Llamas, which he founded in 1992. He is also known for being one half of the songwriting duo in Microdisney and for his work during the early 1990s with the English-French band Stereolab.

<i>The Bravery</i> (album) 2005 studio album by the Bravery

The Bravery is the debut studio album by American rock band the Bravery, released on March 14, 2005, by Island Records. It peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard 200 and number 5 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Margerine Eclipse</i> 2004 studio album by Stereolab

Margerine Eclipse is the eighth studio album by English-French rock band Stereolab. It was released on 27 January 2004 in the United States by Elektra Records and on 2 February 2004 in the United Kingdom by Duophonic Records. The album is in large part a eulogy to former band member Mary Hansen, who died in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The High Llamas</span> Anglo-Irish avant-pop band

The High Llamas are an Anglo-Irish avant-pop band formed in London circa 1991. They were founded by singer-songwriter Sean O'Hagan, formerly of Microdisney, with drummer Rob Allum and ex-Microdisney bassist Jon Fell. O'Hagan has led the group since its formation. Their music is often compared to the Beach Boys, a band he acknowledges as an influence, although more prominent influences were drawn from bossa nova and European film soundtracks.

<i>Midlife: A Beginners Guide to Blur</i> 2009 greatest hits album by Blur

Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur is a two-disc compilation album by Blur, released by EMI Records on 15 June 2009. It is Blur's second retrospective collection, succeeding 2000's Blur: The Best Of and coincides with the band's 2009 reunion performances.

<i>Hawaii</i> (The High Llamas album) 1996 studio album by The High Llamas

Hawaii is the third studio album by the Anglo-Irish avant-pop band the High Llamas, released on 25 March 1996 on the band's Alpaca Park label. The arrangements of Hawaii incorporate more electronic sounds than its predecessor Gideon Gaye (1994), while its lyrics loosely address themes of nomadism, nostalgia, film and musical theatre, and the effects of colonialism. The record peaked at 62 on the UK Albums Chart for a one-week stay. In the United States, the album was issued with a 40-minute bonus CD containing material that was previously unreleased in that region.

<i>Introduction</i> (Red Krayola album) 2006 studio album by The Red Krayola

Introduction is an album by the experimental rock band Red Krayola, released in 2006 via Drag City.

<i>Gideon Gaye</i> 1994 studio album by The High Llamas

Gideon Gaye is the second studio album by the Anglo-Irish avant-pop band the High Llamas, released in 1994 on the Brighton-based Target label. Notable for anticipating the mid 1990s easy-listening revivalism, the album's music was influenced by Brian Wilson, Steely Dan, Brazilian bossa nova and European film soundtracks, and was recorded with a £4000 budget. It was met with high praise by the British press. Q dubbed the LP "the best Beach Boys album since 1968's Friends". In the US, the album was indifferently promoted.

<i>Cold and Bouncy</i> 1998 studio album by the High Llamas

Cold and Bouncy is the fourth studio album by Anglo-Irish avant-pop band the High Llamas, released on 27 January 1998 by V2 Records. According to bandleader Sean O'Hagan, the title refers to electronica's "paradoxical" combination of "cold" or digital sounds and "bouncy" rhythms.

<i>The Underside of Power</i> 2017 studio album by Algiers

The Underside of Power is the second album by American experimental band Algiers. The album was released through Matador Records on June 23, 2017. The album was produced by Adrian Utley of Portishead and his frequent collaborator Ali Chant. It was also the band's first album to feature drummer Matt Tong as a full-time member.

<i>Microshift</i> 2018 studio album by Hookworms

Microshift is the third studio album, fourth long play record and final album by British rock band Hookworms. It was released on 2 February 2018 by Domino Recording Company. The album's namesake is an audio plug-in. The record is dedicated to "Archie", the band's former live sound engineer.

<i>R.Y.C.</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Mura Masa

R.Y.C. is the second studio album by Guernsey-born music producer Alex Crossan, under his alias Mura Masa. It was released on 17 January 2020 by Polydor Records and Anchor Point Records. The album has guest features by Clairo, Slowthai, Tirzah and Ellie Rowsell.

<i>Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley, Chapter 1: Snake Oil</i> 2020 studio album by Thomas Wesley

Chapter 1: Snake Oil is the second studio album by American DJ and musician Diplo, released under his country moniker Thomas Wesley. It was released through Mad Decent and Columbia Records on May 29, 2020. The album features collaborations by Orville Peck, Cam, Morgan Wallen, the Jonas Brothers, Thomas Rhett, Young Thug, Blanco Brown, Noah Cyrus, Julia Michaels, Clever, Zac Brown, Danielle Bradbery, Ben Burgess, Lil Nas X, and Billy Ray Cyrus.

<i>High January</i> 2020 studio album by Marker Starling

High January is the ninth album by Canadian music artist Marker Starling, released on 24 April 2020. It is composed entirely of original material, being produced for the first time by Sean O'Hagan, whose previous work with Stereolab, The High Llamas and Microdisney brought extensive experience to helping achieve a fully-realized Marker Starling sound. Laetitia Sadier, also of Stereolab, contributes vocals to two tracks, "Waiting for Grace" and "Starved for Glamour".

<i>Emotional Contracts</i> 2023 studio album by Deer Tick

Emotional Contracts is a 2023 studio album by American indie rock band Deer Tick, released on ATO Records.

<i>I Am Not There Anymore</i> 2023 studio album by The Clientele

I Am Not There Anymore is the eighth studio album by British indie pop band the Clientele, released on 28 July 2023 by Merge Records. It has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Chronicles of a Diamond</i> 2023 studio album by Black Pumas

Chronicles of a Diamond is the second studio album by American band Black Pumas, released on October 27, 2023, through ATO Records. It was produced by group member Adrian Quesada, co-produced by fellow member Eric Burton and John Congleton, and mixed by Shawn Everett. The album was preceded by the lead single "More Than a Love Song".

<i>Ilion</i> (album) 2024 studio album by Slift

Ilion is the third studio album by French progressive rock band Slift, released on 19 January 2024 through Sub Pop. It received acclaim from critics.

<i>Plunge</i> (Sam Evian album) 2024 studio album by Sam Evian

Plunge is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Sam Evian, released on March 22, 2024, through Flying Cloud Recordings and Thirty Tigers. It received positive reviews from critics.

References

  1. 1 2 "Hey Panda by The High Llamas Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  2. Sendra, Tim. "Hey Panda Review". AllMusic . Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  3. 1 2 "The High Llamas – Hey Panda". Uncut . May 2024. p. 84.
  4. 1 2 Johnson, Steven (27 March 2024). "The High Llamas – Hey Panda | Album Reviews". MusicOMH . Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  5. 1 2 "The High Llamas – Hey Panda". Uncut . March 2024. p. 29.
  6. Dillon, Ryan (27 March 2024). "The High Llamas Tackle the Art of Sonic Dynamics On Nuanced Hey Panda (Album Review)". Glide Magazine. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  7. Pearis, Bill (8 November 2024). "List Season comes early with Uncut's Top 80 Albums of 2024". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  8. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2024.