Interview: Animal Collective

Animal Collective will likely go down as one the decade’s most critically acclaimed and influential bands. Formed by a group of Baltimore high school friends, the loose collection of separate identities have been releasing albums since 2000. However they started building wider popularity with 2003’s Here Comes the Indian, and each subsequent album – Sung Tongs (2004), Feels (2005), Strawberry Jam (2007), and Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009) have arrived with increasingly deafening acclaim. Their latest, Merriweather in particular was called the album of the year upon its release in January. Their unclassifiable music changes with each album too – the freak folk of Here Comes the Indian to the minimalism of Sung Tongs, the flowing melodies of Feels, the unpredictability of Strawberry Jam to the dense pop songs of Merriweather. Their live shows are incendiary too, which those who witnessed their rigorous shows when they toured here last in 2006 will attest. The band are playing one show in Auckland, and I have a chat to Avey Tare (aka David Portner) in the lead up. Click HERE to read the interview.

Animal Collective hit town this time next week (Tue 8th December) and will play at The Powerstation - limited tickets still available from Ticketmaster.

Update: Monday 7th December - This show is now sold out.