''Hey Panda'' is the eleventh studio album by the Anglo-Irish
avant-pop
Avant-pop is popular music that is experimental music, experimental, new, and distinct from previous styles while retaining an immediate accessibility for the listener. The term implies a combination of avant-garde sensibilities with existing ele ...
band
the High Llamas
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 si ...
, 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
''Here Come the Rattling Trees'' is the tenth studio album by Anglo-Irish avant-pop band the High Llamas, released on 22 January 2016. It is an adaptation of a 2014 theatrical play that the group premiered at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London' ...
'' in 2016.
Critical reception
''Hey Panda'' received a score of 89 out of 100 on review aggregator
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
based on five critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
''
Uncut
Uncut may refer to:
* ''Uncut'' (film), a 1997 Canadian docudrama film by John Greyson about censorship
* ''Uncut'' (magazine), a monthly British magazine with a focus on music, which began publishing in May 1997
* '' BET: Uncut'', a Black Enter ...
'' called it "beautifully now",
while ''
Mojo
Mojo may refer to:
*Mojo (African-American culture), a magical charm bag used in voodoo
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* MOJO HD, an American television network
* ''Mojo'' (play), by Jez Butterworth, made into a 1997 film
* '' ...
'' 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".
''
MusicOMH
MusicOMH (stylized as musicOMH) is a London-based online music magazine which publishes independent reviews, features and interviews from across all genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.
History
MusicOMH was founded and launched by ...
''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".
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".
Track listing
Charts
References
{{Authority control
2024 albums
Drag City (record label) albums
The High Llamas albums