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Rating: “…And our trio will become a duo…”, that's how Pumbaa and Timon sang in “The Lion King”, and that's how two other “animals” Panda Bear and Avey Tare are singing, having been left orphaned, by choice or force, it's not known, of the third Animal Collective.
However, the two seem to manage well even without the man behind the buttons, the one behind the console, if you know what I mean. They demonstrate this amply in Sung Tongs, which was released just a few weeks ago by Fat Cat.
The album, as strange and disconnected as it may seem, speaks the basic chords of pop music (the one with a capital “P”), thus using a universally comprehensible language. However, the animalistic duo do not seem to like the straight and downhill paths. In fact, here, the fixed epithets of pop are read and rewritten in different keys, broken down and reassembled in their inverse position, de-contextualized. Often accelerated or slowed down as in the case of the pulsating “We Tiger” (just to not stray too far from the zoo).
The instrumentation is as basic in its guidelines, as varied and bizarre in the embellishment accessories of the album. A very simple acoustic guitar indeed acts as a common thread throughout the album. As for the accompaniment, instead, there's an incredible mix of ethnic instruments on one side and refined electronic embellishments (in the disjointed style of the latest Flaming Lips or that of the more rarefied Radiohead) on the other.
The ethnic element does not seem to remain confined only to the instrumentation but rises strongly to attention also thanks to certain choirs and choral parts very close to Afro tradition. This is evident in the cheerful and carefree “Who Could Win A Rabbit”. Even in “College”, there is a strong impression of being faced with a tribal ballad, the kind where you jump around the fire following the shaman. But its intro is more reminiscent of a Brian Wilson in Surfin’ Safari mode and perhaps the reference is more a tribute than unintentionality. As for references, therefore, also the Beach Boys, but how can one not think of Barrettian Psychedelia listening to certain hypnotic and repetitive vocalizations, as in the case of the prolix “Visiting Friends”.
An extremely beautiful and fascinating album that presents the noble and ancient theme of psychedelia in an extremely current and innovative way, approached with childlike simplicity. As if to say that perhaps one must regress to childhood to handle with pure simplicity the Pop fundamentals and rework them with candid, naive, and sincere genius.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Who Could Win a Rabbit (02:18)
Hungry bread and butter hustle
You’ve been doing it a while, it is only fair
Where's your relaxation?
Words that aren’t required for your help
Quit hating on my new perspective
But hurrying along with meal is ever done
You could win a rabbit
You could have a rabbit or
With the fast child is gonna have a dead hand
We can get it strong again
But mine let must put on good habits
Been working and put on good habits
Sometimes I can’t find my good habits
Do dodododo dododododododododododo!
Oh, Spanish babies, all the echoes
Heard she’s getting better, stay out of the train
Let you wipe your feet off
Eat it like it’s going to get away
Your coffee sure is getting colder
Your teeth are getting fewer spaces in the way
You could win a rabbit
You could build a rabbit with a rib
Wabbit or habit, habit or real
Wabbit or habit, habit or real
Rabbit or habit
Do dodododo dododododododododododo!
05 Kids on Holiday (05:47)
Are you waiting for me?
At the end of the airport
I’m off buying our tickets
Auteur in hibernation
But I’m feeling impatient
We were late for departure
And the smell of pajamas
Is what makes me feel frivol
There are minutes for sleeping
But we didn’t have minutes to spare
So you’re feeling sleepy
Sympathize with the retard
Being held by his mother
She’s got spit in her napkin
And she’s pushing him that way
Like the stench through the men's room
And it’s making you nauseous
Where the hell have I got to?
There’s a boy who’s a Krishna
And he thinks you look pretty
Well, he's eyeing your stockings
He’s got books to help you with your life
But there’s no need to worry
This is just a vacation
It’s not permanent leaving
Every kid gets excited
When his parents are yelling
They ordered a Lincoln
And they received a compact
And there’s fat nuns and tenors
Who are blocking departure
Till I’m birthed from their vulvas
And I kiss you and hug you
Do you remember our forfeits?
And you shout at the platform
Here we come mister airplane
Please, Please, Please, Please
Try, Try, Try
To enjoy your roots
Have some fun, fun
Kids on holiday
09 We Tigers (02:43)
(spoken: "May I bang with this?")
I'm like this and you're like this,
(we tigers we tigers woop!)
Hey kids let's pick up sticks let's make a sound of our own,
All dogs invited if everything feels wrong then we need a little bangin' goin on.
1-2-3 arms for the trees self seekers vomiting doubts,
I changed all your words but my poltergeist concurs that words aren't even neccessary right now.
But I'm a noisy singer singing out a dinner, dinners are much stranger now.
Anybody? Come on anybody? Anybody? come on everybody!
Tigers tigers... Crawl out...
Katie did it Katie did it... Crawl out....
Oagers oagers oagers crawl out...
I've felt worse but I feel the curse of knowing what I shouldn't be,
Dont know where we will go but lets walk around and pretend to own houses we see,
Kiss for a kiss, love change for chips, rules; but I thought you and I,
Remember you young duck you crashed at my apartment you kept me up and made me smile.
Now I'm a noisy singer singing out a dinner dinners are much stranger now.
Anybody? Come on anybody? Anybody? come on everybody!
Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers....
10 Mouth Wooed Her (04:24)
Good day outside
Tribe of life and mine and yours
You’re so good and natural
Arms appeal
Cause your so close
Close to I
And eyeing my face
So I can take you out at breakfast time
Yes you’re nice
All so violent
All so sure
I figured it out
I think I’ve figured it out
We be patient
Time for a nap
And now
If I could just fix the clock I’d take you out
At breakfast time
I don’t want no one of
I don’t want none agua
I don’t want one of the
I don’t want none of those
I don’t want no one no
I don’t want more of them
I don’t want no one of the
I don’t want no agua
I’ve been thinking
Better (not) think
Better chance, better rosary
Words are green,
And words are weed
We get dressed,
Now lets all go out, oh lets
The dye in my face is hot
And all the kids
At breakfast time
better drink it all
if i let ya have it
I need mouth water
I need mouth water
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Other reviews
By daniele/tsh1
The voices are the protagonists in this album; choirs, reworkings, and deconstructions allow the listener to rediscover the infinite nuances of the human voice.
The variety of Sung Tongs is another of its strengths; the album indeed moves through very different atmospheres, from sweet ballads to experimental minisuites.
