Down There, the debut LP from multi-instrumentalist Avey Tare, shouldn't surprise any fan of Mr. Tare's other band, Animal Collective. The airily detached vocals, inventive melodies, and experimental beats will make fans of Animal Collective's older material feel at home. Unfortunately, everybody else will most likely shy away; the album is not nearly as immediate as Merriweather Post Pavilion, or as electric as Strawberry Jam. By Basement DJ the Doctor
Down There sounds like it was written in Animal Collective's damp, dark, dub-inducing basement. Where the album lacks in surprises, it makes up for in the ambience department. The beats and general atmosphere are the album's primary strengths. It may take a few spins and a solid pair of headphones to appreciate the album's cohesion, but Avery Tare's debut will undoubtedly leave an impression.
Recommended if you like: Animal Collective, Atlas Sound, Grizzly Bear