Animal Collective - Meeting Of The Waters (Album Review)

 

Animal Collective - Meeting Of The Waters

(2017)


My copy: limited Record Store Day pressing by Domino Records. 


Meeting Of The Waters is an acoustic/electronic EP recorded live in the Amazon Rainforest. The EP features two of the four main Animal Collective members: Avey Tare (David Portner) and Geologist (Brian Weitz). This album was announced as a Record Store Day exclusive print, and with descriptions painting a return to roots with acoustic guitar and electronic samples, it became a must have for fans of classic Animal Collective. 

Upon finally securing my copy, it was immediately clear what a breath of fresh air Meeting Of The Waters would be. This four song EP arrived just one year after 2016’s Painting With, an album that is widely considered a low point in the Animal Collective discography. “Blue Noses” immerses us in the sounds of the Jungle, and Geologist juxtaposes metallic, swirling samples against the lush natural sounds of the environment. The samples and synthesized melodies build a tapestry which Avey Tare graces with guitar and vocals. 

Fans will immediately draw some comparisons to Sung Tongs or even Campfire Songs for similarities in the usage of acoustic guitar: Avey will sometimes softly stroke the strings and other times jolt the chords from his instrument with a measured intensity. The vocals serenade the jungle, and sooth the listener. 

“Blue Noses” eventually uses samples to transition into “Man Of Oil,” the catchiest and most easily consumable track on this EP. “Man Of Oil” features several interesting samples including the sounds of a local woman’s voice. Avey’s vocals are gentle but commanding rhythmically, and the core instrumental has a hypnotic sense. “Man Of Oil” speaks to themes of destruction of nature, but does so in a subtle and artful way. Geologist’s shimmering synth tones reflect on past Animal Collective sounds and may conjure some nostalgia in the hearts of fans. 

“Amazonawana/Anaconda Opportunity” is an ambient sound collage featuring many samples. There are cartoonish vocal yelps and distinctive bleeps before directly leading in to “Selection Of A Place (Rio Negro Version).” “Selection Of A Place” is a solo Avey Tare song that was also featured on his album “Eucalyptus” which came out in the same year. This version of “Selection Of A Place” benefits from the live atmosphere, and feels as if Avey is singing a lullaby for us right next to a campfire outdoors. The final track eventually twists and distorts into a crescendo of radio interference and loud bass tones. 

Meeting Of The Waters felt like a reassurance that Animal Collective were still interested in experimenting with stripped down sounds, and that Painting With was simply one point in their highly varied music catalog.

If you didn’t secure a copy of this record when it was released, you may have to shell out a bit extra to secure a copy from Europe.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Makes an Album Great

Image
            Great albums should leave lasting impressions, not only on those who listen as non-musicians, but also on the realm of music these albums occupy. In other words, a musical project should seek to leave some distinct mark on it's genre, to lay claim to some form of unique personality; this can often come in many forms, ranging from broad sound choices to subtle production techniques. This method for evaluating music seeks to make complacency the enemy, and forward movement the desired goal. This is not to say that all derivative albums are necessarily bad, as of course, outliers will always exist. Rather, the goal of an artist should, intrinsically, be to leave some reflection of their own condition, regardless of how relatable those emotions may or may not be. In music, this can be achieved in multiple ways, however I will focus on three aspects that I find particularly important when listening to music.      When co...
Read more

Oneohtrix Point Never - Again (Album Review)

Image
  Oneohtrix Point Never - Again (2023) My copy: 2023 limited press on orange transparent vinyl by Warp Records. Having built a strong reputation across a multitude of electronic projects, Daniel Lopatin now cashes in on his modern influence to compile what is likely his most ambitious project yet. Spanning over an hour, Again picks up where 2017’s Garden Of Delete left off, for better and for worse. Even with lush string arrangements and big-name features, Lopatin is unable to prevent Again from falling victim to some serious bloat. Anxiety immediately unravels in the orchestral “Elseware” though this introductory track quickly straightens out into a beguiling arrangement that is unlike any “typical” Oneohtrix track. The ritual “Again” then dives headfirst into Lopatin’s usual world of chittering robots and droning vocal mimicry. Things begin more explorative - descending into the depths of some synthesized hell before fading and restarting. Acoustic flourishes fester alongside...
Read more

Part Chimp - I Am Come (Album Review)

Image
  Part Chimp - I Am Come (2005) My copy: 2005 press by Rock Action Records As the millennium turned, rock music trends began to shift. In the U.S. a band called Lightning Bolt were establishing themselves as forerunners of modern noise-rock by pushing the music in increasingly weird directions. Across the pond, Mclusky were fighting the good fight with the 2002 Albini-produced Do Dallas, that wove dry, intelligent humor in between bursts of electrifying instrumental poundings. But over in London, another set of noise-crazed rockers got their start around the same time.  Part Chimp’s humor is a touch more on the nose; see album title Chart Pimp, or song title “Hitler and Jews” from the same 2002 debut. But directness is just where a band calling themselves “Part Chimp” excels. As rock began softening and going the way of the Strokes real quick, Chart Pimp offered a bastion of sludge-y rock ferocity that mostly suffered from being less able to fully capture the sheer volume ...
Read more