High Places - High Places

Rating: 8
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For all you Animal Collective enthusiasts, High Places will take you to an abode most comfortable. The zips, zaps, and boinks that make up those familiar, maniacal rhythms you've come to appreciate from the aforementioned art-noisers seem to reign prevalent on this album. Tribal clicks and beeps give the songs a very primitive electronic feel, a Caveman's musique concrète. One very distinct feel is lent to it by a soft-spoken songbird by the name of Mary Pearson, unlike that of the high-pitched whine we've come to expect from Avey Tare and friends. The lyrics and vocals don't particularly strike a presence to me, partially because I'm not one to care for them, but I will add that they compliment the instrumentation in a way which is truly enjoyable. The variety of sound is daunting, with melodies crashing and criss-crossing through headphones and speakers every which way. If you like experimental, I can almost guarantee that you'll enjoy High Places.

Album Highlights: "The Tree With the Lights In It," "Gold Coin," and "Namer"