Review Summary: Panda Riot pull out all the stops for their third full length album.
Having started out as a duo with a drum machine, Chicago four piece Panda Riot have seemingly always had an interest in blending the electronic and organic. Seamlessly switching between programmed and live drumming on previous albums, and augmenting their intentionally washed out guitar sound with keyboards, they have always sought to strike a balance between these aspects of their sound.
Infinity Maps is the most realized version of their aesthetic yet, as the keyboards, loops, and processing are used to full effect to add texture to the proceedings. The frequent use of interlude tracks is perhaps the most apparent change from their previous albums, such as the fully ambient "Niagara", which transitions seamlessly into the opening of "New Colors".
The mood is often uptempo and light, but always with an air of melancholy thanks to the contributions of singer/guitarist Rebecca Scott. As opposed to their early work, she uses more of her lower vocal range, which is airy and soothing. The production doesn't seek to cover up her presence, but rather gives her voice room to breathe, with the lyrics readily decipherable. The work of the band's rhythm section can also be credited with the propulsive, engaging sound of many of these songs, such as the early tempo change in "New Colors".
The 18-song track list is perhaps less intimidating than it looks, as the band throw the occasional curveball, like the trip hop beat on "Aurora Shift" into the mix. Noticeably however, while nothing sounds tossed off, some of the album's later mid tempo tracks do tend to run together. Overall, as a richly orchestrated melange of guitar-based and electronic aspects,
Infinity Maps should appeal to many fans of dreamy pop music.
