Animal Collective's career so far has been on a steady upward trajectory, with last year's Merriweather Post Pavilion making them indie music's most buzzed-about band. However, in a new interview with BBC 6 Music, founding member Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) revealed that the band may be stepping back from the limelight, explaining that last year's marathon tour has burned them out.
"There was just so much touring for us," Lennox said. "We're not really road dogs. We were really happy with the record, so we wanted to put in a little extra this time. But it took its toll, in terms of us just being exhausted. So I think all of us are trying to lay low just for a second."
The band's future is currently uncertain, and Lennox didn't rule out the possibility that they may call it quits. "There have been times in the past when I've thought we were done. So I don't know, this could be it. I don't expect it to be, I should say, but you never know."
Despite these comments, Lennox is already looking ahead to the group's next move. Regarding a possible new AC album, he said, "We've already talked about it in very loose, vague terms. But no dates have been set, in terms of us getting together to work on stuff. One thing I think all of us are interested in is trying to write music in the same location, because it's been a while since we've done that. So hopefully that comes to pass."
In the meantime, he's busy putting the finishing touches on his new solo album, Tomboy, which is due out in September. Speaking of the follow-up to 2007's highly acclaimed Person Pitch, he said, "I think the biggest change is that I'm trying not to do samples as much, or at all, really."
We're hoping that Animal Collective's plan to lay low turns out a bit like Deerhunter's supposed hiatus from last year. Despite claiming in September that they would be taking a break, Bradford Cox & co. have already reconvened and are currently on the road with Spoon.
"There was just so much touring for us," Lennox said. "We're not really road dogs. We were really happy with the record, so we wanted to put in a little extra this time. But it took its toll, in terms of us just being exhausted. So I think all of us are trying to lay low just for a second."
The band's future is currently uncertain, and Lennox didn't rule out the possibility that they may call it quits. "There have been times in the past when I've thought we were done. So I don't know, this could be it. I don't expect it to be, I should say, but you never know."
Despite these comments, Lennox is already looking ahead to the group's next move. Regarding a possible new AC album, he said, "We've already talked about it in very loose, vague terms. But no dates have been set, in terms of us getting together to work on stuff. One thing I think all of us are interested in is trying to write music in the same location, because it's been a while since we've done that. So hopefully that comes to pass."
In the meantime, he's busy putting the finishing touches on his new solo album, Tomboy, which is due out in September. Speaking of the follow-up to 2007's highly acclaimed Person Pitch, he said, "I think the biggest change is that I'm trying not to do samples as much, or at all, really."
We're hoping that Animal Collective's plan to lay low turns out a bit like Deerhunter's supposed hiatus from last year. Despite claiming in September that they would be taking a break, Bradford Cox & co. have already reconvened and are currently on the road with Spoon.
