Animal Collective has been described as “experimental,” which is essentially another word for “undefinable.” They have a unique sound that transcends genres, and their latest album, “Centipede Hz,” is an uncommon yet amazing showcase of the band’s ingenuity.
Animal Collective started in the late nineties as a hobby for Baltimore high schoolers David Portner, Noah Lennox, Brian Weitz, and Josh Dibb. But, by 2000, they had released their first album, and haven’t stopped making music since. “Centipede Hz” is their first full-length album since 2009 and their ninth altogether.
“Centipede Hz” is fast-paced and electronic, not in a rowdy club music way, but in a fun, energetic way that makes the album exotic and lively. Animal Collective’s latest album is more substantial than their airier past albums.
The song “Amanita” has an interesting Indian quality to it, with what sounds like a sitar in the background. The hypnotic rhythm of the song makes it sound like some kind of march, but one that you would want to march along to.
On of the standout songs on the album was “Today’s Supernatural” because it had less of an electronic sound has more of a rock feel to it than the rest of the songs. It was still electronic, and the nonsense sounds and dance beat helped it to sound consistent with the rest of the album.
“Rosie Oh” was also one of my favorite songs on the album. It had floaty quality to it, which was only enhanced by the bird chirps that were added in. “Rosie Oh” sounded like an old tape that was beginning to sound warbly, but the effect seemed to make the song even prettier.
“Monkey Riches” has somewhat of a manic feeling to it. The thumping tribal beat behind the chanting lyrics sound like some kind of tribal war dance, but it made the song fun and energetic nonetheless.
A retro approach to the album’s mostly electronic sound was “Father Time,” which featured a synth background and David Bowie-like vocals, which came together to give the song a distinct 80’s vibe.
“Centipede Hz” combined a little electronic sound with a lot of musical adventurousness to create an awesome album that’s completely unique.
