Animal Collective has always been in a state of flux: Deakin (Josh Dibb) has left and since returned, and the group has admitted their desire to never make the same album twice. “Centipede Hz,” the experimental group’s ninth album, merely confirms their ability to evolve with ease.
Despite including many classic Animal Collective characteristics-screeches from Avey Tare (David Portner), mantra-esque lyrics, heavy percussive elements-the album is hardly comparable to 2004’s “Sung Tongs” and is only somewhat describable in terms of 2009’s “Merriweather Post Pavilion” 2.0, Animal Collective’s brilliance is still apparent throughout “Centipede Hz.”
Personally, coming to terms with this ever-changing sound is difficult, and this album especially took a while to sink in. However, it’s gorgeous in its own strange and unique way-and there’s nothing else I could possibly hope for from Animal Collective.?