Domino
It’s hard not to look at Animal Collective’s last album 2012’s suffocating Centipede Hz as anything but a disappointment. Over a decade into their career it showed a band that had seemingly boxed themselves into a corner making the new and exciting seem far far away. It’s no surprise then that the members are returning to solo work with Avey Tare embracing his new Slasher Flicks project.
With singer/keyboardist Angel Deradoorian (Dirty Projectors) and drummer Jeremy Hyman (Dan Deacon) on board the group’s debut Enter the Slasher House isn’t as much a departure from AC as it is a continuation. Despite Avey Tare’s reputation for being one of the more difficult AC bros the album is surprisingly straightforward and easy on the ears especially when they tone things down and give the tracks some breathing room like on the funky “Little Fang” and the pop-geared “Roses on the Window.” Deradoorian’s small vocal additions are also a definite plus.
Yet despite the new band members Avey Tare can’t seem to sound like anyone but Avey Tare with his warped shouted vocals constantly reminding you you’re listening to an AC project. While the album is hardly a game changer it is step up from the disappointingly bland Centipede Hz .
