Film Music Report

Animal Collective Live Music Review from Dour Festival in Belgium

I left my campsite about a half an hour before Animal Collective’s set would begin on the Friday night of Dour Festival. My tentmate, Maddi, and I trekked through the grounds and arrived at the tent named Club-Circuit Marquee. We stood around for about 10 minutes, and then the band I have been wanting to experience for this past year enveloped the stage.

My eyes were vast, waiting to submerge myself in the music created by these musicians. I was ready for a set that was going to blow my fucking mind. Turns out the members of Animal Collective (David Portner aka Avey Tare, Noah Lennox aka Panda Bear, Brian Weitz aka Geologist, and Josh Dibb aka Deakin) begin the set together in a minimalistic sound and let their music grow, crescendo and then become a sound that blows your fucking mind.

At the beginning of the set I was not fond of the minimalistic sound that the musicians use as a way to feel and understand one another. I was becoming impatient and nervous. I was just waiting to be enveloped by the noise of Animal Collective. I was so anxious I almost left the tent to retrieve a water bottle from the tent site. Thankfully Maddi talked some sense into me and reminded me how much I have been wanting to see this band for the past few years. So I took a deep breath and became mesmorised by the lighting and this fantastic ball covered in lighting and visual projections. And then the end of the set came. I was so surprised. As I was engulfed by the lighting and visual projections, Animal Collective’s music grew and became the sound that blows your fucking mind. I was completely immersed in their beautiful sound and music.

The musicians of this band have to find and feel each other out before they can create this up-beat experimental noise. My cheeks were aching from the massive smile I had on my face for the entire set. Animal Collective blew my mind. Now when I listen to them, my heart, soul and body is filled with euphoria and my massive smile appears on my face.

I now understand why tickets to see this band live are so expensive and why their ‘Animal Crack Box’ collection has been selling for hundreds on E-Bay.

Seeing this band has almost completed my wants and needs of seeing live music. But I will save up money and do anything to see this band again.

I am constantly listening to them on my I-pod (the one thing that wasn’t stolen!). Every time I listen to them digitally my mind is filled with colors and ecstasy from their live performance.

And so, I feel like I must thank the band for their music. This performance at Dour has changed my outlook on the band and on what live music should be.  So, merci beaucoup.

Alexandra Lederman
Film Music Writer

Filed under: Alexandra Lederman, Animal Collective, Dour Festival