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Jan 22, 2018 Web Exclusive By Charles Steinberg

The exclusivity of a vinyl-only release carries with it a certain temptation. It gives wax heads another reason to visit whatever record shop remains in their town on Saturday afternoon and it incentivises all others straddling the fence and tired of feeling left out to get a turntable and join in.

It’s no secret that Animal Collective belongs to the former of the two groups of people. A good deal of their music is (arguably) fashioned with a DJ’s mentality and DJ sets by one or more of the members are fairly common. Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear, has pressed a five track record with decks and a dance floor in mind. And the speakers. Lennox was clear from the outset of this creation that this was intended to be heard as he puts it “out in the air.”

A Day With the Homies jumps off with “Flight” which delightfully makes you think of George Michael singing hopscotch. Here and throughout, Lennox’s voice is layered on top of itself in clean Beach Boys-esque harmony, issuing inclusive messages that are calls to rise. Also throughout, the low end of production pushes woofer-vibrating thumps that are irresistable, particularly on “Nod the Folks” where if your own head isn’t nodding along you might not have a nervous system. It’s the kind of beat that an Andre 3000 verse would light-up and Beyoncé choreography would electrify.

This is a fun record that’s looking for a place in a crate on the way to a social setting, or some spintime on an afternoon hang with the homies. Whatever the occasion, the latest from Panda Bear will lighten the mood. (www.adaywiththehomies.com)

Author rating: 7/10