70. Animal Collective - "Isn’t It Now?"

I have become distinctly disconnected with Animal Collective as of late. 2009’s “Merriweather Post Pavilion” was an extraordinary record that married ambitious prog with twee indie. Sadly they never managed to effectively follow-up on that promise everything released hence just felt a little, anticlimactic. That is up until now.

 I was expecting this to be given no more than a cursory listen and then to bail around the fourth track. However I found myself smitten as they have re-found their ability to create slight hypnotic ditties that borrow into your head. “Isn’t It Now?” has a wonderfully restrained lo-fi minimalism to it. Its delivery is almost shy and reserved and you have to coax out its treasures. 

At the heart of it are luscious harmonies and it feels like a modern reinterpretation of the Beach boys. For once they are not trying to be experimental for experimental sake and instead this is beautifully rendered subtle and low-key indie that shimmers in a reserved manner.