Pantha Du Prince : Black Noise :: Review
Pantha Du Prince’s new album “Black Noise” is an eclectic cacophony of both ambient sound and electronic soundscapes that create a bewitching listen. While listening to “Black Noise” you’ll feel as if you’ve been taken out of your element and dropped into a weird new dimension of sight and sound where your fantasies become realities and with apologies to Rod Serling.
“Black Noise” was recorded in the Swiss Alps and often feels like a product of its surroundings in several tracks especially the chilly “The Splendour.” Elsewhere the album chimes and sputters along in sunny fashion, “Welt Am Draht.” The mood isn’t consistently chirpy and bright on “Black Noise” as there is some darkness that creeps throughout the grimy “Stick To My Side” which also features vocals by Panda Bear. The gray mood thickens on “Black Noise” with the advent of the oppressive “Behind The Stars” which is the heaviest track on the album.
The tinkling “Bohemian Forest” lightens the mood somewhat but a feeling of dread dominates the remaining tracks accompanying the distorted melody of the semi-acoustic “Im Bann.” “Es Schneit” reverberates like a bell in a hellish choir offering no respite from the monolithic melody that closes the album. “Black Noise” isn’t an easy listen but requires repeated exposure on headphones for maximum enjoyment.
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