Well haven’t we been blessed by the music gods in the last couple of days.
First Four Tet releases a rarities collection and now, Gold Panda an EP. Derwin
Panda hails from Chelmsford, Essex, and has released several EP's / singles and
a single album on American electronic label Ghostly International. It's a label
he shares with Matthew Dear, Com Truise and Dabrye. Panda is very fond of the
Akai sampler, acoustic guitar loops and sharp glitch cuts of single notes. All
of which makes an appearance in his new EP Trust. And It's not long
before Panda hits the listener with what he does best, samples, loud bass and
synth glitches. "Trust Intro" features a very hazy synthesizer
pattern with glitch sounds on both the left and right speaker. It could be
considered something of a noise track if it was plastered in distortion,
thankfully Gold Panda hasn't gone down that route, keeping things simple and
EDM, electronic dance music, welcome to Trust.
Like Panda's Lucky Shiner work, "Trust" has various
instrumentals at his exposure. One of the reasons I keep coming back and listen
to Gold Panda is for the variety of instruments used in his recordings. The
beats are there like his London counterpart Four Tet, with all the easy listening
and relaxing sounds, just with a glitch edge and an atmospheric vibe. The track
really gets going at 2:30 in, where you will hear an enlarged bass beat, left
sided percussion and the high pitched synth pattern that’s looped in different
pitches in the background. It not long before I notice my upper body dancing
while I'm sitting down listening. That's the power of Gold Panda, and if you go
see him live, you won't be able to stand still.
The title track to this EP does offer moments of excitement, but it never
really convinces me of an improved Panda. Lucky Shiner set the standard so high
that when album two comes out, people may expect something more than, this.
Nonetheless it's one of Panda's most relaxing works to date, as is the
follow-up track "Burnt-Out Car In A Forest". There's a noticeable
synth like sample that, like many other aspects of Panda's music, has been
shift pitched down and up to create the beautiful electronic patterns. The hand
claps sound very primitive and, fruity loops / 80s hip-hop-esque. There's not
much to be said about the beats direction, however this track in my opinion is
a livelier and stronger track than the titular track.
"Casyam_59#02" like the previous few tracks has a hazy / white
noise style loop in the background. The foreground is plastered with aggressive
bass patterns and odd percussion. It's sort of a lacklustre Panda track,
finding itself on the back of this EP. Instead of the dance-like textures of
both "Trust" and "Burnt-Out Car In A Forest", Casyam_59#02"
is for the late night drive. The beat is relaxing and accompanied with reverb
effects. The glitch nature of Panda returns in the slightest with the beat, but
ultimately the effects are at heart on Trust's final track.
Trust is an indication that Gold Panda is edging nearer to his
sophomore album. Although the material here isn't as likeable, catchy or
danceable as both his previous singles and debut album Lucky Shiner. I'd
welcome an album that had tracks like both "Trust" and
"Burnt-Out Car In A Forest". It won't be long before Gold Panda
announces a date for his second album, till then, Trust will keep us
occupied.
~Eddie