Michael D. Ayers, N.Y.
Its highly anticipated album "Merriweather Post Pavilion" won't hit
stores until early next year, but experimental rock act Animal
Collective is already planning a return to the studio.
Founding member Dave Portner describes the project as "visual
record. The lines were really blurry when we started," he tells
Billboard.com. "It was going to be a film, like a feature film, but
by no means a narrative. It's more collaborative, between us and
our friend Danny Perez, who did one of our music videos."
Portner says Perez has been working on the visuals for the
as-yet-untitled project for more than two years, and that the band
will be providing the accompanying music. "This year, we got to a
place where we can start doing demos and nailing all the sounds
down, while we're at home," Portner explains. "It's something
new for all of us. It's been a work-as-we-go process."
Animal Collective will take to the road in January around the
launch of "Merriweather Post Pavilion," due Jan. 20 via
Domino. After seven European dates, the band will play New
York, Chicago and Los Angeles on Jan. 20, 22 and 23, respectively.