In the 23 years since their debut album was released, Animal Collective have honed the art of the jam. Workshopping their glittering, melody-forward songs on stage, the experimental quartet have developed a recorded sound that retains the freewheeling style of their improvisations. Yet, with its members pursuing solo careers and living abroad, recent years have seen the band recreate their jams with replacement instrumentalists or online back-and-forth.
Their latest album marks the first time in a decade they have made a record with all four members in the same room, and its references are sprawling. From hurdy-gurdy on the 21-minute Defeat to dubby grooves on Gem & I and the psychedelia of Genie’s Open, Isn’t It Now’s unifying thread is its capacity for change.
While brief, groove-based tracks such as Broke Zodiac and Gem & I are satisfyingly punchy, they’re hampered by excessive amounts of experimentation. Defeat’s ghostly vocals veer into boredom, while the repeated silences on King’s Walk become monotonous. Ultimately, the album is burdened by its own weight, striving to exorcise the group’s creative urges. Perhaps with more time together, Animal Collective could jam into a sense of consistency again.
