Pandatone, now recording for Music Related, follows his debut for Neo Ouija with a second album, Happy Together. Happy Tigether is sweet collection of simulated lo-fi electronic pop. Featuring vocalist Julianna Barwick whose voice, when processed reminds me of The Sundays’ Harriet Wheeler especially on the two openers, ‘The Last to Remain’ and ‘I Forgot If We Dreamed’, Happy Together is a lovely headphone experience recalling the better work of Müm and legions of imitators. Pandatone’s sonic backing is made up of processed guitar, chimes, glockenspiel, synth, and, in comparison to others in it’s genre, surprisingly robust percussion. These muffled beats, although submerged low in the mix, have on roots in mid 90s trip hop, yet this not beat-driven music. Most of all, though, static and tape hiss feature prominently in the mix, like clouds of memory, transforming melodies that might in other circumstances verge on the twee into delicate and spacious atmospheres. Short and snappy at just 8 tracks and half an hour, Happy Together is well worth the time – headphones essential though.
Sebastian Chan
