[Sputnik Monroe]

My partner (who doesn't like animal collective) and I watched this last night after smoking a bit of weed in complete darkness. We both thought this was some of the best visuals we've ever witnessed, it was really a profound showcase of coral life, and I don't understand why this isn't getting more press even just from a stand point of the visuals alone. I mean Has corral life ever been filmed like this before? I haven't seen anything like it. I thought the music went really well with it. It did a good job at conveying how mysterious, beautiful, alien but relatable by the sheer fact of how alive they seemed, that they reproduce and eat and do things we do as well. The music also was great at capturing the emotion of the impact we've had on this life form, the urgency to change our ways, but also the fact that we've caused a lot of impact and obstacles for nature and its life forms and despite that nature always proves to be more resilient than we first expected. I would say my partner and I both found the experience of this audiovisual album to be quite beautiful and profound, and it means a lot that my partner liked something animal collective related!

[cody]

inspector gadget and its accompanying images totally feels like the creature reveal in a sci-fi movie. and that low-pitched voice sample in coral understanding is so cool.. reminds me of the intro for the live version of chocolate girl.

overall every part of this thing is way better than i expected... especially those visuals. i'd like to see more stuff that john mcswain has edited.

[tuvin diesel]

aaaah i'm really dying to listen to this again but i don't want to go through youtube and i don't want to wait two or more days for my parcel to arrive

sometimes… life, is hard

[Stanshant]

It's on Spotify as well if that helps?

[Andrew_VB]

picked up the record at my local store this afternoon. i kind of expected the vinyl to be a more coral-like neon green as opposed to the dark translucent green it ended up being.

hopefully will be able to listen to it tomorrow, excited for the full audio experience on my stereo setup.

[stash]

Checking in

The word flagella just popped into my head. I blame this

[popadam]

it's pretty good, but i probably won't return to it too often. this bands doesn't do it for me the way they used to unfortunately.

[Hellomark]

I've been listening to it a lot since it came out but I think I'm gonna give it a break and save it for special occasions when I can listen to it the whole way through, which feels like the way these songs deserve to be heard. Though I will say that there are a few tracks that can stand on their own as decent songs, Jake and Me being one of them.

[dio]

So enticed by the first couple songs I heard/saw. Busy summer and im currently moving to Colorado tomorrow if my car doesn't explode in Texas BUT then I will experience this proper and have full write up/hype by weeks end <3

I do kinda hope music box comes out soon also and we'll have a twofer of panda-less ac. Love love love that variety. Heard a wonderful interview by Helen gillet, the cello playing woman from music box show on npr today and didn't realize how legit she is outside of that lil collab. Anyway that's something else, but ya I'll get my coral on soon

[Stanshant]

Good to see you pop in and best of luck with the move!

[Tropic]

Aye

[clearwaters]

With this visuals, this album is fantastic. They really help, they are amazing and not a shoe-in, and so beautiful. Was absolutely in awe to the emotion they were conveying through this film. Nice work boys!

[Lacrimosa]

clearwaters wrote:

With this visuals, this album is fantastic. They really help, they are amazing and not a shoe-in, and so beautiful. Was absolutely in awe to the emotion they were conveying through this film. Nice work boys!

[NotBradPitt]

Wrote a review if anyone's interested: https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/777 ... rine-Reef/

[Hellomark]

That's a fair review, for sure. Even though I enjoy the album for the most part I find myself agreeing with or at least being sympathetic to most of your criticisms. It's a very flawed release, and it's frustrating because I can hear some very strong musical ideas throughout most of it but I'm not sure that the live in studio recording method was the best way to execute them. I would love to hear versions of Inspector Gadjet and Coral Realization for instance that had been recorded properly and developed just a bit more. But still it's a very interesting release and I appreciate it as a funny little change of pace in their discography.

[Lacrimosa]

Hellomark wrote:

That's a fair review, for sure. Even though I enjoy the album for the most part I find myself agreeing with or at least being sympathetic to most of your criticisms. It's a very flawed release, and it's frustrating because I can hear some very strong musical ideas throughout most of it but I'm not sure that the live in studio recording method was the best way to execute them. I would love to hear versions of Inspector Gadjet and Coral Realization for instance that had been recorded properly and developed just a bit more. But still it's a very interesting release and I appreciate it as a funny little change of pace in their discography.

Exactly how I feel, even though this could've been so much better I'm still very pleased with this direction and even though I know they can do much better, I'm still loving the shit out of this, especially with the insane visuals.

Hellomark wrote:

I would love to hear versions of Inspector Gadjet and Coral Realization for instance that had been recorded properly and developed just a bit more.

And what about Hip Sponge, my god, it deserves so much more attention.

[NotBradPitt]

I wrote:

Coral By Numbers. At half the length, it contains twice as many lyrics, and is built on stabs of percussion with intense bass. Each one feels like a satisfying jab in the chest, a way to keep the listener's eyes open for the following song. Unfortunately, that song is Hip Sponge and it is the worst cut from Tangerine Reef.

[tuvin diesel]

I totally get why this album isn't to everyone's tastes, but it's definitely to mine. I've listened to it a few more times now and I seem to like it more each time. I'm holding off on making a final judgment or ranking but I am very very pleased with this release.

[Fovrodi]

Think this is the closest we’re gonna get to Aveys chill out album

[yoko bono]

I like it.

[ingenue]

I kinda think the production style has had the effect of making this not feel like a “proper” AC record. It’s basically a live record. I like the textures. It’s like hi lo-fi. My one gripe is Avey’s vocals. That short delay is on every track.

[roopn]

Lundsten Coral suddenly struck me as being very reminiscent of Lablakely Dress

[yoko bono]

2nd listen was much better. The first couple tracks stand out. Im going to watch it next.

[Lacrimosa]

NotBradPitt wrote:

I wrote:

Coral By Numbers. At half the length, it contains twice as many lyrics, and is built on stabs of percussion with intense bass. Each one feels like a satisfying jab in the chest, a way to keep the listener's eyes open for the following song. Unfortunately, that song is Hip Sponge and it is the worst cut from Tangerine Reef.

I love how it suddenly opens up everything, it's one of the sparse moments - together with Best of Times (Worst of All) - where i feel the sort of hope and feeling of love that only AC can give me. Like I said it's def not executed and developed well enough imo but I do really love that moment. And Coral Realization after that is amazing.

[Lacrimosa]

roopn wrote:

Lundsten Coral suddenly struck me as being very reminiscent of Lablakely Dress

Haha I know, right. I was singing those high panda (?) vocals along with iit yesterday when I was walking down the street, must've looked/sounded really weird for the people that saw me.

[SpritBear]

Is there anyone putting out physical copies of the video ?

[jetski]

Finally got the chance to watch/listen last night, really enjoyed it. The visuals are incredible. I think I'm not connecting with this release super hard right now just because lately I haven't been in the mood to listen to this kind of minimal ambient music . But it's cool, I'm still very glad this exists and I know it'll make more sense when I'm ready for it. The concept is pretty much the exact type of project that AC excels at and I think they nailed the sound / vibe perfectly to match the film. I def think this deserves to be getting more hyped

Gonna echo the praise for Airpipe and Jake and Me, a couple of great tracks, also really enjoy Palythoa

[jordanrandall]

This album is definitely a grow-er not a show-er. My first dip into this was the full audio/visual experience on YouTube. I woke up early on release day and made sure to prep myself before I dove in. I proceeded to load up my vaporizer with some beneficial herbs. Next, I grabbed a box of Berry Berry Kix cereal and a carton of lactose-free milk, placed an empty bowl in front of me and pressed play. My high was exacerbated within the first 5 minutes of the film. I hadn't seen the "music video" for Hair Cutter, but I assume it's just the visuals that play in the full film during the song? In any event I was gobsmacked. As the film/album progressed I felt a whole bunch of different emotions. I felt sad at times. I felt anxious at times. At times I felt elation. As an art piece it is beyond evocative. As a "nature film" it is breathtaking in its cinematography of its subjects. As a soundtrack/score it is MASSIVE. With a nice sound system tracks like Airpipe made my hairs stand on end. I couldn't help but feel that the package was so cohesive that the audio recordings alone would be bland in comparison. But I tried not to think of this too much as I let the imagery and sounds play like children within my imagination. As Best of Times came to its conclusion I was sad to see the reef fade into the blackness of the screen, it's beautifully haunting chimes still ringing in my ears.

Later that day I revisited tracks that stood out to me, along with the visual companion piece on YouTube. Tracks like "Buxom", "Hip Sponge" and "Best of Times (Worst of All)" really stood out to me. Avey's melodies were bittersweet and reminded me of the kind of pleasant sadness that builds and crashes like waves all over albums like "Feels" and "Eucalyptus."

I ordered the vinyl, which still hasn't f*cking arrived... So I didn't want to over do it. I left it for a couple of days and came back to it this morning... Audio only. I don't know if it's because the visuals from the film have been etched in my mind as a permanent reminder of what the album is scoring but my original fears were thankfully not met as I again was brought to the same level of emotional impression by just the audio alone. Again, those mournful ones really got to me.

Because of the albums dense layering I feel like I'm going to be able to spend a lot of time exploring the mysteries of the deep (much like the reefs). Overall I'm very excited that this exists and that it is what it is.

I would agree with some saying that Avey's voice is either too murky with the short delay effect on most tracks, but its definitely a stylistic choice. I was a little off-put by the vocal effects on Enter The Slasher House but eventually came to embrace and enjoy them.

In summation, Tangerine Reef is a very special Animal Collective release and while it's not something I expect the outside world to understand... I hope those who care to look will appreciate its alien-esque beauty, it's wonder and it's melancholy... Again, just like the coral reefs.

[Tropic]

Are there lyrics anywhere?

[BenPup]

this is honestly such a great release! really hoping that they put out a dvd or bluray at some point

[Tropic]

Yeah this rules and anyone who doesn't like it is lame

[NotBradPitt]

jordanrandall wrote:

In summation, Tangerine Reef is a very special Animal Collective release and while it's not something I expect the outside world to understand... I hope those who care to look will appreciate its alien-esque beauty, *its wonder and *its melancholy... Again, just like the coral reefs.

What is there to understand? It's some pretty neat footage of coral accompanied by neat aquatic-sounding ambient music.

[jordanrandall]

NotBradPitt wrote:

What is there to understand? It's some pretty neat footage of coral accompanied by neat aquatic-sounding ambient music.

The Guardian: "Desolate and disjointed. Sadly, the soundtrack to their first full visual album with collaborators Animal Collective is a tougher listen than the news."

NME: "This is musical porridge, a thin gruel ladled over 13 tasteless tracks that you have to force down, one after the other, endlessly, until you’ve nearly forgotten that music is meant to be fun."

AV Club: "The worst way to engage with Tangerine Reef is by listening to it."

The Line of Best Fit: "In spite of the album’s conceptual clarity however, Tangerine Reef does feel slightly empty at times, with no songs really leaping out as essential."

Exclaim: "This is Animal Collective at their most aimless, and these 13 tracks aren't so much songs as abstract soundscapes, full of seasick synth swirls and Avey's mumbling vocals."

Independent UK: "It’s hard, though, to see who could take their side with Tangerine Reef."

The Times: "Most of the tracks feature indecipherable words aligned to impenetrable music that is too jarring to be calming, but not dynamic enough to be engaging."

Sputnik Music: "There are no harmonies, no hooks, no anthems, nor anything remotely accessible to be found in the audiovisual experience..."

[jordanrandall]

Tropic of Cans wrote:

Are there lyrics anywhere?

Yes. They are all here:
https://genius.com/albums/Animal-collec ... erine-reef

[NotBradPitt]

That Sputnikmusic review is from someone who gave it a 3.9/5. You don't have to understand the music to enjoy it. You can also understand it but still not enjoy it.
It sounds like you're implying that only Animal Collective fans can 'get' Tangerine Reef but that's definitely not true. Aside from the fact that this is an album with an accompanying film, and that it's a studio rendition of Coral Orgy from last year, nothing else needs to explained. I think most of those critics already understand it like that. Even knowing that information, it doesn't mean anyone is going to enjoy it more.

[jordanrandall]

My point exactly, I don't expect everyone to understand this album... Whether they enjoy it or not... thats totally subjective. I personally love this album and I feel like I understand (to the best of my own abilities as a listener and AC fan) why certain sonic choices prevailed in the overarching context of the "visual tone poem" but its pretty clear that some folks are gonna be like "where da beeeetz tho?"

[Tropic]

Thank you,,, sir

[Tropic]

lol those lyrics are way off base

[spoogn]

I really love the album

i was a big fan of the music since the coral orgy boot surfaced, and some of u have probably seen me raving about coral orgy somewhere on the site

I've been hype for this to come out and i think it's lived up to all of that hype, i really like the visuals, but at the same time i also feel like listening to the music on its own is still an entirely sufficent experience. Stan said that this is the album people have been talking about wanting from AC for like the past decade, and SO much of that has been on this very website, it's weird to see so few people talking about it here now. But it does feel like kind of a homecoming.

I've been kind of just absorbed in the music and (also like Stan said) I feel like it has so much more potential than recent tunes to be fleshed out and to grow on you over the course of time. As the next step in their discography I adore it. It seems like a return to form but it's also apart from their other music.

The album is very lonely and isolating in sound and honestly that may have something to do with why there isn't much talk about it on the site. It's something you can get lost in but at the same time can be hard to talk about

some of their sweetest and also some of their most menacing tunes on this thing

Geologist got to play around a lot here it seems which was also overdue

I said this back when it was still Coral Orgy, but I'll restate it now for the record now that it's official; this album ranks among recent AC favorites of mine a la Music Box, New Psycho Actives, Sleep Cycle, MOTW, TTG, Eucalyptus

[tuvin diesel]

NotBradPitt wrote:

What is there to understand? It's some pretty neat footage of coral accompanied by neat aquatic-sounding ambient music.

Not the poster in question, but: I think that's exactly it. I think there's just a lot of people out there who fundamentally don't get ambient and soundscape music. Like, they may get it on an intellectual level, but it doesn't do anything for them and they ultimately see it as meandering, boring and disposable. As a result, mainstream press has long struggled with ambient music (unless it's an established name, like Eno or Sakamoto)

That's all evident in the coverage TR is getting. Look at some of the reviews jordanrandall quoted… NME criticizes it for not being "fun", as if that's something that all music must aspire to, always (it isn't, it shouldn't, and it doesn't). Line of Best Fit has a similar critique, that no "songs" jump out— again, as if that's a given any release should be doing.

AVClub and Sputnik are hung up on the visual component, seeing it as nothing more than a soundtrack and decidedly lesser out of that context, which strikes me as unfair. Because while I don't mean to dismiss the visual component, I think it's important to compare/contrast this with ODDSAC, which didn't (and still doesn't) have an accompanying soundtrack release— the only way to listen to it was to watch it. TR has an actual soundtrack release, which to me indicates that it's intended to be listened by itself, with no accompanying film. Of course YMMV on whether it actually does… but "the worst way to engage with Tangerine Reef is by listening to it." strikes me as a pretty lazy take!

That said, I know that you and others on the forum aren't too hot on TR, so let me take a step back and clarify that I'm not trying to say anybody who dislikes ambient is Bad. No, on the contrary, I totally understand why it's not a genre for everyone, and why it just doesn't do anything for a lot of people; and it's absolutely fine to not enjoy a genre of music if it doesn't do anything for you. All I mean to say is that ambient music is tough for a lot of people to relate to, which is probably a big part of why TR is getting lukewarm reception— doubly so given AnCo has a rep as a pop outfit, and this is a bit of an unexpected turn for them.