9/10

Label: Domino   |   Released: 03.09.12.

Animal CollectiveÔÇÖs ninth EP, Centipede HZ, sees the return of Josh ÔÇ£DeakinÔÇØ Dibb, who was absent for their last endeavour, critically acclaimed Merriweather Post Pavillion of 2009.┬á Centipede HZ is perhaps less accessible; it feels more frantic, almost schizophrenic in places.┬á Each song is connected to the next by static and random samples, making the whole album a kind of colourful patchwork of techno.┬á ItÔÇÖs like a selection of short stories, each requiring your full attention and preferably your eyes closed for full immersion into the richness of the soundscape.┬á ┬áCatchy tracks include fruit obsessed yodelling in Applesauce, and Rosie OhÔÇÖs quirky, dove-like cooing synths.┬á ÔÇ£I’m holding the choice as she grows life from its stem,ÔÇØ sings Deakin, over the drones and mesmerizing Indian rhythms of Wide Eyed.┬á The sincerity of the albumÔÇÖs vocals is striking; the unfiltered, natural voices seem to believe wholly their cryptic mumbo-jumbo.┬á This, contrasted with aggressive sampling and time signature changes galore, makes Centipede HZ a bizarrely beautiful creation.