A ? of WHEN is a 10-track joint album by Panda Bear and Sonic Boom, released July 10 via Domino. The follow-up to 2022’s A ? of WHEN continues similar musical territory built from loops of harp and sequences of steel drum, webs of pedal steel, and mariachi-band elements. Collaborators include harpist Mary Lattimore, multi-instrumentalist Daniel O'Sullivan, and steel guitarist Zena Kay. The themes focus on online exhaustion, pervasive depression, political chicanery, and ecological sustainability, while emphasizing respecting luck and giving grace. Lyrics also reference “kitty cats and flip-flops.” A shared statement frames change as both exciting and frightening, criticizes algorithmic culture, and promises reduced online presence with no streaming and no videos.
"“Change. Exciting & frightening at the same time. The slow slips & the big shifts. Highs & lows from the distraction of connectivity. AI slop becomes an AI slope. Algorithm tables & algorithms tumble. We're taking things a little off piste. More rock n' roll than flick & scroll... From here on in we're getting back to a place of real connectivity and as you might have noticed from our new 'Graveyard'/'Lucky Charm' 7″ (only available from record stores) there's no streaming, no videos, and a minimisation of online everything.”"
"“built on loops of harp and sequences of steel drum, webs of pedal steel, and even bits of a mariachi band from Mexico City,” according to a press release. Across the LP, the duo are joined by a suite of collaborators, including harpist Mary Lattimore, British multi-instrumentalist Daniel O'Sullivan (Sun O))), Ulver), and steel guitarist Zena Kay."
"“online exhaustion and pervasive depression” and “political chicanery and ecological sustainability,” with the pair dissecting these heady ideas while still “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.” There is, however, apparently lyrics referencing “kitty cats and flip-flops,” so that's super fun."
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