This Friday (March 29) marks the return of one of pop’s most misunderstood and underappreciated acts as The High Llamas release Hey Panda. These twelve songs make the first release from the Sean O’Hagan-led project since 2016 and in classic Llamas fashion, it is the band as we never heard them before. 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.
The delicacy of these songs allows Hey Panda to feel as free as a bird while staying honed and focused as if that bird was hunting for dinner. The surgical precision of each note unveiled the attention to detail that allowed these minimal arrangements to sound larger than life without falling victim to sounding over-produced. The bells and whistles of these songs are nuanced and subtle, creating a gentle field for auto-tuned melodies to frolic freely. O’Hagan creates the sort of sonic dynamics that never leave you once you’re introduced to him, by keeping things simple he makes them unforgettable. He avoids repeating himself by implementing subtle influences from around the globe, creating a cosmic journey of cutesy pop tunes that evoke the warmth of summer and the beauty of a sunset.
The way these songs are structured allows their nuance to shine although it takes a bit of digging to understand the beauty of Hey Panda. On the surface, the distorted vocals and piano-driven arrangements can feel like they bleed together, this album takes multiple listens to truly digest what is being done here. Not that listening to these songs over and over again is a punishment, there is something so charming about the way these songs slowly bleed into each other. The album is consistent on the surface but a deeper listen unveils blissful tunes that come alive via unpredictable sonic twists that get better with every listen.
O’Hagan’s approach to songwriting has morphed into something entirely new on Hey Panda. Each song feels like a reinvention of the last without repeating itself, the album simply gets better with every listen. There is an inherent infectious energy that radiates from this tracklist, dainty synths dance around soft vocal tones while delivering vague yet potent songwriting. A track like “Yoga Goat” sounds simple enough but underneath the dancing piano melodies is a hidden message of a simple life. Therein lies the magic of Hey Panda, the attention to detail allows the similarities of these tunes to dissipate and evolve into something entirely new. Whether it is the chanting melodies on “Stone Cold Slow” that are juxtaposed by bouncy acoustics or the slight nod to European dance music on “Fall Off The Mountain”, O’Hagan makes his influences his own.
Like a tropical flower, the right environment and patience can unlock the mysterious beauty of The High Llamas’ Hey Panda. O’Hagan painted a vivid portrait of his growth since the last Llamas release, by allowing his influences to take charge he lands on a sound all to his own. Free to roam in this newfound sound, the artist created a consistent LP that is equally nuanced and complex, a juxtaposition that never leaves your side after your first listen. The gentleness of this album feels like a warm embrace, Hey Panda is a welcomed change in direction for a band that refuses to repeat themselves. Rather, they combine new experiences with familiar tropes for a 12-track outing that will ultimately find its way into your daily routine.
