Salt ‘. hit 5 v.1 )HI I ) CHRIS STOUT QUINTET AND FRASER FIFIELD TRIO Oran Mor, Glasgow. Mon 24 Oct
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Chris Stout
COLUMN
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INDII ANIMAL COLLECTIVE ABC, Glasgow, Sat 22 Oct
If you‘ve heard Animal Collective‘s blistering new album, Feels, and are itching to see how they recreate such a diverse range of songs live, then forget it.
Some bands refuse to play the ‘old classics‘ —I challenge anyone to go to 3 Radiohead concert, shout ‘Creep!’ and get out alive. But Animal Collective take it one step further.
‘We usually go backward and play all new songs on tour,‘ smiles founding member Noah. ‘Then we can work with them and get them to where we like them, play around with them a bit. then go into the studio.‘
80 if Fee/s‘ hyperactive track ‘Grass‘ won you over with its scream-along chorus, tribal drum beat and euphoric guitars, then you‘re out of luck. If you can’t wait to hear slow burner ‘Bees’ with its sprawling soundscape, distant strumming and distracted vocals, then sorry but don‘t hold your breath.
But don‘t worry. On every album since their debut, Campfire Songs, recorded outside on a porch in Maryland
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in the autumn of 2001, Animal Collective have progressed in leaps and bounds.
‘Campfire Songs is probably our most folky album,‘ says Noah. ‘But we change things around all the time. | feel like we‘re barely conscious of those decisions though. There isn‘t much talk about it. We try hard not to repeat ourselves.’
One thing that has remained constant is Animal Collective‘s knack for delivering that killer hook, and hanging it off some of the most heartfelt vocals you‘re likely to hear this year. Noah believes this melodic sensibility has informed all their music.
‘I would say we're a pop band, but some of the other guys might not. It‘s my favourite kind of music, but we try and change it around too.‘
So if you‘re not going to know any of the songs, some musical reference points would be helpful.
‘No, I don't mean to put anyone else down at all, but I don‘t listen to too much music,‘ says Noah. ‘I think we‘d prefer to be our own thing, but I don‘t feel pressure to be strange or anything like that. We’d just like to chart uncharted water.’ (Rob Dabrowski)
Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble paints a worryingly surreal picture of life in America. Firmly lodged in the heartlands of America now. so much so that I found myself usth the word 'awesome' yesterday to describe my lunch. Can't tell yeti how much that terrified me on a personal level. Also. I'm haying a really hard time working out who we appeal to over here After seven American tours. the people who show up at the concerts can best be described as eclectic lots of large men wrth back to front baseball caps. introverted teenagers who've lied about their age. and a lot of middle aged woman who dance in a way that often makes me laugh Out loud. which is never a good thing when you've got a microphone in your mouth and are Supposed to be a serious. thOughtlul frontmari. What a yoke.
I‘ve been alleviating the boredom of tour days by buying canvas and paints and getting stuck into some painting. which was my obsession as a teenager. I attempted a oOrtrait of Colin's baby boy. Cohen. but it ended up looking more like a hybrid of Uncle Foster and Dr Evrl. Flattering it certainly was‘n't. although it made everyone laugh. which I suppose is never the intention of the artist. I think I'm going to stick to Ie-indscapes. which America is definitely not short on. We've been through mountains and deserts so far. all seen through the wrndow of a bus. but still. it‘s an amazing ceiintry to look at. Just don't try and feel a part of it. Nothing beats the northwest of Scotland for landscape and colour. if yOu ask me ai'iyway.
And it's turning my dreams weird. I ast night I dreamt that l was a toy soldier. the night before I was on a ship Without a captain. except there was a stage. but the PA system was unplugged. And it was stormy. Maybe I'm slowly going insane.
I promise this column wrll return to normal when I'm back in Scotland. Tonight we‘re parking the tour bus in a canipsne. Am I the only one who thinks this sounds wrong?
Id/ewr/d's new album. Warnings/Promises. rs out now on Par/ophone.
in ()(:l :r Non .‘(Itlfi THE LIST 63