Animal Collective: Water Curses

Label: Domino

No quickie throwaway, Water Curses is a welcome addendum to last year’s spectacular Strawberry Jam, combining the band’s recent penchant for strong melodies with plenty of experimental spazz and noise. The four tracks here were culled from the Strawberry Jam sessions, and you can hear the same crisp production from that album. The title track opener soars with a delightful synthesizer riff and plenty of the pop-friendly whackiness, while “Street Flash” and “Seal Eyeing” have a more restrained, laid-back vibe. “Cobwebs” continues in a similar quiet mode but features some strong harmonies and rhythms. At this point in their career, Animal Collective can do little wrong, and Water Curses serves as a brief but wonderful showcase for all their creative strengths. (James)