The early phases of producer
Hendrik Weber's
Pantha du Prince project were immediately distinctive, combining deep but minimal house rhythms with swarms of melodic bell tones for a sound unique enough to be its own sub-genre of electronic music. His style morphed as the years went on, growing more textural on some albums, and taking on an especially earthy, organic feel on the live-instrument enriched 2020 album
Conference of Trees.
Garden Gaia continues the naturalistic themes and synthesis of live and electronic sounds that defined
Conference of Trees, and branches out in different directions as it unfolds. "Open Day" begins the album gently, with spare bell figures, liquid synth bass, and field recordings of birds and nature sounds spilling into a blend of live percussion and sterile electronic drum sounds. It's a somewhat new age-y start to the record, but
Pantha du Prince's signature melodic style emerges quickly, with bass figures that move cautiously and let a few notes hang before repeating their patterns. "Crystal Volcano" is more of a halfway point between
Weber's earlier microhouse sounds and the more humanized later style of
Pantha du Prince. The core pulse of the song is tight and uncluttered, but softer ambient synth pads and splashes of live cymbal flourishes wash over the mix. Throughout
Garden Gaia,
Weber bounces playfully between arrangements and styles. "Heaven Is Where You Are" is one of two tracks that gets production assistance from
Bendik HK, and its brassy synths, straightforward beats, and cold vocal samples are worlds away from the impressionistic live string parts and folksy acoustic instruments that adorn "Start a New Life."
Weber rarely settles on one direction for long, which can result in a somewhat disruptive flow at times. Despite some sharp turns between styles, the songs here represent some of
Pantha du Prince's best moments in any given articulation of sound, moving quickly from the lighthearted danceability of "Liquid Lights" to the cinematic beauty of "Golden Galactic," a closing track that pairs brittle synth sequences with lush swells of orchestral instruments.
Garden Gaia is a varied presentation of the different routes
Pantha du Prince has taken over the years, but its different styles contrast more than they conflict, offering up some of the project's most captivating material to date. ~ Fred Thomas