Animal Collective are back once again with the release of their new EP. Located in different continents, Animal Collective is an umbrella name used for the grouping of four people: Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Deakin and Geologist.

Less than a year on from their critically acclaimed album, Merriweather Post Pavillion, Animal Collective are here to release their new five track EP entitled 'Fall Be Kind'.

This EP was recorded by Ben Allen in two different locations in America, Sweet Tea in Oxford, MS in February 2008 and at Mission Sound in Brooklyn, NY August 2009.

'Graze' opens this EP with a strange eerie sound with ghostly echoes and whispers. The vocals are lifeless and it isn't until 3 minutes into this track that a beat kicks in. This turns to the sound of a funfair organ which is quite annoying and not enjoyable to my ears!

'What Would I Want? Sky' again opens with a hollowy echoey sound. This to me is noise, not music. There is no sense of rhythm and yet again it isn't until we hit the 3 minute mark that we hear a hint of a beat kick in.

Opening with the vocals of a robotic voice is 'Bleed'. This gives it a sense of darkness and at last I think we may have the start to a good song on this EP. Unfortunately, I am wrong and this amounts to nothing more than chanting voices and an annoying underlying synth.

'On A Highway' is better than the previous tracks. It sounds stronger and has a tribal feeling to it. The percussion is raw and real and I like that it adds depth to the track.

'I Think I Can' also has a tribal sounding beat to it, it feels fresher than anything else on this EP too. The vocals are much better and even though they are chanting rather than singing there is more passion coming through.

This band will never be a favourite of mine but the last couple of songs on this EP will boost the score I give them.

3

Helena Rea