KCRW Exclusive: Animal Collective Plays “Crimson” Live on KCRW

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Animal Collective continues to defy expectations with their mind-expanding approach to indie rock. And, in their live session for Morning Becomes Eclectic, they played something a little special — a fan favorite which has been performed a few times live, but never recorded before. It’s called “Crimson”.

Animal Collective: Crimson (Live on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic) by KCRW

They started the set with “Wide Eyed”, off their new album “Centipede Hz”, and closed it with “Honeycomb”, which was released as a 7” single on Domino Records earlier this year.

Check out the full set in the archives here, including an interview with Jason Bentley where Deakin (Josh Dibb) talked about how the band’s key to success is “keeping ourselves excited”. And to them, that means creating music that sounds different from their previous work.

Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) added that he “thinks of playing music like playing golf” – that you’re not competing against someone else, just competing against your own personal best.

I like that analogy!

Their live shows are legendary and we hosted the band in advance of their debut at LA’s famed Hollywood Bowl on September 23. Should be an incredible night.

(sadly there is no video component to this session, but here is their trippy album cover to stare at while you listen).

RR