Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished / Danse Manatee

Referencing points from Syd Barrett to Fennesz, Flaming Lips to early Bowie, this double album is a great introduction to this Brooklyn group. The CD repackages their first two releases which, whilst gathering a certain amount of critical acclaim in the US, had little or no distribution elsewhere. Described by TimeOut NY as "the discovery of the year," the Collective's first offering was a stunning collaboration between Avey Tare and Panda Bear called "Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished," released on their own label (Animal) in August of 2000. The duo's approach is similar to Love's (circa "Forever Changes"), with Avey Tare's picked acoustic guitar flowing in perfect syncopation with Panda's tumbling drum kit. The songs range from speedy patchwork pieces to slower piano melodies, a somehow coherent yet very fragile brand of psychedelic music. The band's second album, "Danse Manatee" (remastered for this release) was released by Catsup Plate in July 2001. "Danse Manatee" gathered more exposure as it was accompanied by a month-long US tour with their friends Black Dice.