The last couple of records (more if you include Panda's solo outings) have seen Animal Collective take a firm grip of Brian Wilson-patented pop, but where those releases still seemed to have another foot deeply planted in experimental terrain, "Merriweather Post Pavillion" is where their skewed pop vision assuredly takes center stage -- all slinky electronic hooks but with a lo-fi haze giving you the feeling that you really haven't heard this before.

Amid all the stories of leaks, counter leaks and other such hipster espionage, it's sometimes easy to lose interest in a record altogether. Hell, Deerhunter had to write a whole new album to make up for it, so what do Animal Collective do? Well, they do nothing and to be quite honest, with an album this good they're quite justified in resting on their laurels. I must say now, the Collective have never totally convinced me in the past -- while others were foaming at the mouth extolling the virtues of Feels and Strawberry Jam, I only really pricked up an ear on hearing Panda Bear's frankly majestic Person Pitch. Riding on a promise of "freaky", "psychedelic" near-folk, the band have, however, slowly stumbled through stereotypes and lazy genre placement to arrive on a sound that is very much their own.

The last couple of records (more if you include Panda's solo excursions) have seen the Collective take a firm grip of Brian Wilson-patented saccharine pop, but where those releases still seemed to have another boot lodged somewhere in an experimental wasteland, Merriweather Post Pavillion is where the band's skewed pop vision assuredly takes center stage. The folk leanings of their past are now left to the music historians and Animal Collective reframe themselves as some kind of post-electro act leaving the carcass of the neo-folk scene to their less talented hangers on. This is the record MGMT wished they could make -- all slinky electronic hooks and enough charisma to keep Kirsten Dunst in tow, but with a lo-fi experimental haze giving you the feeling that you really haven't heard this before. "'My Girls" fights through a Guido-techno arpeggio to reveal the most accessible track the band have ever laid claim to -- somewhere in-between Panda Bear's "Bros" and early (pre sell-out) Human League. It might sound hard to believe but there are enough ideas in here and enough grandeur to keep the Brooklyn copyists on their toes for years to come. Through a deep knowledge of music and a genuine love of their craft, this oft-misunderstood band of lads has finally done what they set out to do. They might upset purists with their shiny new electronic direction but when they're doing it this well, who really needs instruments anyway? I have a feeling we're in for a great '09...

John Twells (January 20, 2009)