It feels like we’re still savoring the flavor of Strawberry Jam, but Animal Collective are already returning with a new four-track EP, Water Curses. According to the press release:
All four tracks have a more stripped down feel than their recent work, opener “Water Curses” takes an unexpected rhythm and throws it up, down and sideways to produce the sound of a smile…“Street Flash” is nearly seven minutes of spaced out hollers, electronics and lullabies that luxuriate in a chord sequence running through a delay that sounds like it’s made of honey. Threatening to explode but laying back on itself instead the track is like a particularly lucid dream.
“Cobwebs” is equally languid. Weaving itself around a vocal that sounds like it’s imagining some new kind of space church for Al Green to conduct weddings until it slowly fades away into a sticky ether. The EP’s final track takes the celestial feel into even more blissed-out states. Seal Eyeing is the moment you realize watching vapor trails melt into the sky is not only the most constructive thing you can do, but the only real option that’s left.
We haven’t heard it so we can’t give it a review, but Maxim says it’s meh. Here’s a tracklist and a new photo of the band looking creepy:
OK, not as creepy as the “Peacebone” video. The tracks:
01 Water Curses
02 Street Flash
03 Cobwebs
04 Seal Eyeing
Too bad “Taste” didn’t make it. The first three were recorded with Scott Colburn at Wavelab Studio in Tucson. Right, the same place where they put Strawberry Jam to tape. “Seal Eyeing” was recorded by Nicolas Vernhes, who also mixed the album at Rare Book Room in Brooklyn. Remember to catch ‘em at All Points West.
Water Curses is out 5/6 on Domino.
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meanwhile, meh
Meh? Fucking meh?
For Animal Collective?
Your mother is meh.
Animal Collective is one of the few bands right now doing anything remotely important/groundbreaking.
Most current bands are simply regurgitating their influences without any originality.
Meh? Fuck y’all.
meh is right. their music is ok, not extraordinary; they are weird for weird’s sake
They were weird. Now they are genius.
They were weird, now they are geniuses.
I’m pretty sure the “meh” thing in the post was a joke.
hate this band
Taste is for the upcoming album, these are Strawberry Jam leftovers.
wasn’t joking.
strawberry jam is just pointless yelling MEH-ness
it’s not weird for weird it’s just lame
I can’t wait. I wanna hear them right now. Shit.
a joke on maxim, get it?
So Taste isn’t on the EP; perhaps we’d do well to leave it off the pontification stand. Dig it.
i love this band. for the record, taste should appear on the newest LP, which they are already recording, according to deakin on the recently defunct AC board
Why should I believe anything Maxim writes?
anyone who doesn’t like animal collective doesn’t understand animal collective.
“ohhhh, it’s just noise!” or “oh, they’re just trying to be weird.”
morons, you’ll like animal collective when you’re smart enough, and can appreciate innovation, complex melodies, creativity, and brilliance…
in the meantime, go back to listening to your mediocre band of horses and beirut albums..
let meh be meh
Trust me when i say Maxim hasn’t heard a second of this EP…
oh burn.
While Animal Collective is one of my favourite bands, that press release is truly sickening.
sexy
James, I’m still laughing at your comment.
“you’ll like animal collective when you’re smart enough, and can appreciate innovation, complex melodies, creativity, and brilliance..”
LULZ!!1!
calling music “weird” and being done with it is a pretty easy thing to do. i haven’t heard many reasons for what’s actually bad about animal collective’s music.
brilliant music, anyone who says its meh or weird for the sake of weird definitely does not get it