Animal Collective

In 2000, in Baltimore, MD, David Portner (aka Avey Tare) and Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) established Animal Collective with the issue of Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished on their own Animal imprint.

It was the first of a series of captivating releases exploring the fringes of folk, noise rock, ambient, drone, and twisted psychedelia. Joined by their friend Geologist (aka Brian Weitz), Avey Tare and Panda Bear released Danse Manatee (Catsup Plate) in 2001, followed by a live release documenting their debut tour with Black Dice. Here Comes the Indian (Paw Tracks), featuring Deakin (Josh Dibb) for the first time, was issued in 2003 to considerable acclaim, and the Collective backed it up with the droning, folky simmer of Campfire Songs, again for Catsup Plate. (FatCat also became the group's European sponsor, issuing their first two albums as a package and signing them for future releases.)

Animal Collective returned in May 2004 with Sung Tongs, a mysterious, frag...