Opulent seaside home

My first 2009 music arrived a few days ago from my Amazonian internet emporium of choice. Animal Collective has fresh produce and it has gathered rather wondrous reviews from all and sundry. The album from the folktronic cavaliers is called Merriweather Post Pavilion and is a quite a treat. Like much of the Animal Collective work that I’ve heard, there’s a lot going on during each song with quirky riddims, lush harmonisations and busy, vivid melodies dominating every darn’d millisecond. It’s certainly a challenging listen but I’m getting there and while one or two songs need a bit more patience before they unravel, several are already lodged in my brain all beautiful and charming and loverley and stuff. I think I’m going to admire this recording greatly. The cover (see above) freaks me out though.

I also had ordered and received the new long player by Antony and the Johnsons which carries the title The Crying Light. The Johnsons’ last offering I Am A Bird Now proved a tender, dainty creature without ever coming close to earning the epithet ‘bundle of laughs’. This recording is similar. Antony Hegarty’s voice soars and warbles and trembles mysteriously while the subject matter (the first track features that old staple of the popular song, epilepsy) defiantly prevents the old sides from splittin’. It’s pleasing music though and I shall carry on spinning the blighter. The Coles are going to see the band later this spring at Bristol’s historic Colston Hall.