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.