The Work
marks
Derwin Dicker
's return to the
Gold Panda
moniker after releases by a number of side projects, including
Selling
, his collaboration with
Simian Mobile Disco
's
Jas Shaw
. The album also arrives after
Dicker
sobered up, became a father, and devoted several years to therapy and self-care. Reflective of his self-improvement process and the path his life has taken so far,
is a busy, stylistically varied album that unmistakably retains the sonic hallmarks of
's earlier releases. He's still fond of rapid, glitchy cut-ups of acoustic instruments and swelling emotions, and the songs largely take shape in the form of dreamy downtempo instrumentals. Early standout "The Corner" is a sorrowful hip-hop track with rippling synth rushes, anchored by an ear-catching sample ("'cause more often than not I'm down here on the corner"). "I've Felt Better (Than I Do Now)" is the album's most joyous moment, with ecstatic kick drums and tightly clipped samples, leaving a little room to cool down during the song's gorgeous bridge. "Plastic Future" has steadily clapping beats but isn't as heavy, and its downcast strings and fizzing synths put it in a more contemplative state of mind. "I Spiral" seems to exist in
's comfort zone of vinyl crackle and sampled folk instruments, yet it grows increasingly complex, and there's a strange flash when everything goes still for a few seconds. "Chrome" also centers around koto-like plucks and melodies forged from reversed samples, and the unsteady beats gradually become more splintered until they dissolve into static at the end.
is
's most honest, emotionally direct release. ~ Paul Simpson