The Thousands

Well, good people of the Ironic and Juxtaposed Music Appreciation Society, it doesn’t get more sonic, more beautiful or more enigmatic than Animal Collective does it? This album, their much anticipated latest full-length player, is nothing short of a day floating about a million kilometres above the stratosphere happily popping along to your own little tune.

MERRIWEATHER features three of the collective’s crazy-cool American underground post-pop prodigies – Geologist, Panda Bear and Avey Tare – who obsess with harmony, melodies, haunting vocals, teetering synths, handclaps, deep bass and catchy choruses; all mindfully crafted into sheer, soaring layers. Vocalists Dave Portner (aka Avey Tare) and Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) meld sound, beauty and happiness so purely into their lyricism I wouldn’t be surprised if it caused a miniature rainbow to well up in your very own eye.**The AC vibe touches on everything from classic pop to psychedelic and tribal influences. But all you need to know is that track 2, ‘My Girls’, is one triumph of this entire album; you will breathe better at night after several solid listens. The next stand out would have to be ‘Blush’, a song for awkward lovers. And then there’s ‘Lion in a Coma’, the perfect song to start your day to. And when you come home ‘No More Runnin’ will be waiting for you. Cue.