Animal Collective

Overview

Animal Collective released their ninth full-length album Centipede Hz on September 4, prompting Rolling Stone to note "Something this inventive should be heard by everyone."

Apparently it is — I'm yet to follow an Rdio account I don't like that doesn't have the new album on high circulation, spinning its already-turbulent buzz into an addictive loop of multifarious textures and unexpectedly cohesive rhythms. And all jumbled up with the respectively gnarly and buoyant vocals of Avey Tare and Panda Bear it's still, as a good record should be, something you can hum along to with a fair degree of confidence.

Visuals are another important part of the Animal Collective experience, whether it's a trippy album cover or one of their sensory overload live performances. They'll be staging one such show at this year's Big Day Out, and another at the Palace in January. Expect the unexpected, and probably lots of graphic neon T-shirts.