If we will enter an AI hellscape is seemingly no longer a question of if but a question of when. I'm assuming this is the origin of the title of Panda Bear and Sonic Boom's new album, A ? Of WHEN, which they're announcing today. The followup to 2022's Reset won't be on streaming so the collaborators can focus on "real life interactions to get back to a place we feel makes more sense."
In a statement on social media, Noah Lennox and Pete Kember explained:
Change. Exciting & frightening at the same time. The slow slips & the big shifts. Highs & lows from the distraction of connectivity.
AI slop becomes an AI slope. Algorithm tables & algorithms tumble.
We're taking things a little off piste.
More rock n' roll than flick & scroll...
From here on in we're getting back to a place of real connectivity and as you might have noticed from our new "Graveyard"/"Lucky Charm" 7" (only available from record stores) there's no streaming, no videos, and a minimisation of online everything.
Going forward we're looking to radio, live shows, listening parties, Q&A sessions & real life interactions to get back to a place we feel makes more sense.
To that end, we're asking you to join us offline, outside of social media. To meet us in the real world. IRL not URL...
The title track is out now and has some serious Pet Sounds energy. You can download it now if you buy the album.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Never givin' in"
02 "Lucky Charm"
03 "Revive him"
04 "Something like dreaming"
05 "A ? of WHEN"
06 "Pray to you"
07 "Be the bridge"
08 "Like a moth to the flame"
09 "Somethin' that lasts"
10 "Graveyard"
A ? Of WHEN is out 7/10 on Domino. Pre-order it here.
