I first heard a handful of these latest Frog Eyes tracks as recordings for the Daytrotter Sessions and they absolutely blew me away. They were overflowing with the same intensity that lead singer Carey Mercer imbued his past albums with, while the rest of Frog Eyes complimented him perfectly with more spastic percussion and hyperactive synths than ever before. I was hoping that these Sessions would translate well onto the new record and they do in spades. Where before there was an underlying eagerness (not impatience, though ) to their albums, they take their time with this one (5, 7, 9-minute tracks), giving each song the time it needs to mature before moving on. Highly recommended.
Campfire Songs by most of the Animal Collective is just this: they went to a cabin in the forest and recorded this acoustic album on its front porch. Chants and airy vocal harmonies backed by each of the members strumming an acoustic guitar, this is as lo-fi and mellow at the Collective get. It's as if the forest itself was making this music for us, with a little help from pouring rain, the wind through the trees or the birds in the audience. Pretty stuff.
Frog Eyes - Tears of the Valedictorian
Animal Collective - Campfire Songs
p.s: Be sure to check out the Daytrotter Sessions by other bands as well, they're always very impressive (link above).
