Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
[FatCat]

Animal Collective go pop. If 'Here Comes The Indian' was Basil Kirchin meets Black Dice, or part of the 'New Weird America' underground scene, then 'Sung Tongs' is a band making their mark into the mainstream.

Inspired by folk, but keeping to their experimental edge & sinister humour, opener 'Leaf House' is the sound of kids playing 'cowboys & indians' mixed together with the Beta Band's '3 EP's.

On paper it's a disgusting mess & a band who have lost their marbles, but on record the band are making some of the most exciting & creative music of the year. Although they write songs which break the mould, they have behind them some fabulously catchy pop singles.

Vocals become instruments, not only in harmonies but in the varying methods of mouth noises they manage to create. Confusing to say the least, are the chord changes on what appears to be detuned acoustic guitars and their random use of percussion instruments.

Multi-instrumental and more organic than previous albums, 'Sung Tongs' has an excellent live feel, as if the band recorded the tracks in one take. Although not as rustic and sketchy as their 'Danse Manatee', improvisation has been replaced by a new lean, focused direction.

In an idealistic world, the charts would always be this entertaining and original. Witty, naive and a playful inventiveness, the Animal Collective are a band to reassure your faith in experimental pop music.

8/10