Animal Collective

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The obsessive sonic experimentation of Animal Collective has evolved over successive albums to the point that their ninth, Merriweather Post Pavilion, is not only an accomplished pastiche of the group's incantatory, electronic rhythm and drone psychedelia, but also their most accessible. Pop and melodic conceits are everywhere, suggesting links to the likes of Brian Wilson's Beach Boys and Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd, even while AC's Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), and Geologist (Brain Weitz)—without Deakin (Josh Dibb) on this record—continue pushing sound frontiers. On "Daily Routine," for instance, keyboard skirmishes and throbbing rhythms pepper a languid pulse while vocals seem to pop out of random holes in the sound fabric. Simmering, spacey electronics and wistful vocals suddenly erupt into a thunderous rhythm assault on "In the Flowers." The sing-along chorus on "Summertime Clothes" is accompanied by corkscrewing electronic fireworks. And the soca-like rhythms and frenetic sound effects of "Brother Sport" suggest a carnival cavalcade that's just getting underway. Eschewing the oppressiveness of some electronica, AC are all about unveiling the giddy joys of the sound universe. With Grouper. All ages.
Wed., May 20, 6 p.m., 2009