Artist: Animal Collective Review: Animal Collective had a psychedelic-pop breakthrough in 2009 with Merriweather Post Pavilion, so it's interesting to hear their old stuff with enlightened ears. The five tracks on this 42-minute LP were conceived not as bonfire singalongs but as music that might mystically emanate from the crackling blaze itself. It works: The ambient bursts of acoustic-guitar sparks and echoey voices — recorded partly outdoors with birds, bugs and breeze joining in — conjure images of fire elves... Rating: 3 Stars

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