In 2000, in Baltimore, MD, David Portner (aka Avey Tare) and Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) established Animal Collective with the issue of Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished on their own Animal imprint.

It was the first of a series of captivating releases exploring the fringes of folk, noise rock, ambient, drone, and twisted psychedelia. Joined by their friend Geologist (aka Brian Weitz), Avey Tare and Panda Bear released Danse Manatee (Catsup Plate) in 2001, followed by a live release documenting their debut tour with Black Dice. Here Comes the Indian (Paw Tracks), featuring Deakin (Josh Dibb) for the first time, was issued in 2003 to considerable acclaim, and the Collective backed it up with the droning, folky simmer of Campfire Songs, again for Catsup Plate. (FatCat also became the group’s European sponsor, issuing their first two albums as a package and signing them for future releases.)

Animal Collective returned in May 2004 with Sung Tongs, a mysterious, fragilely melodic album that garnered even more critical acclaim and spawned a series of tours. Panda Bear issued Young Prayer, his solo debut, in September 2004. The ... (+) expand

In 2000, in Baltimore, MD, David Portner (aka Avey Tare) and Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) established Animal Collective with the issue of Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished on their own Animal imprint.

It was the first of a series of captivating releases exploring the fringes of folk, noise rock, ambient, drone, and twisted psychedelia. Joined by their friend Geologist (aka Brian Weitz), Avey Tare and Panda Bear released Danse Manatee (Catsup Plate) in 2001, followed by a live release documenting their debut tour with Black Dice. Here Comes the Indian (Paw Tracks), featuring Deakin (Josh Dibb) for the first time, was issued in 2003 to considerable acclaim, and the Collective backed it up with the droning, folky simmer of Campfire Songs, again for Catsup Plate. (FatCat also became the group’s European sponsor, issuing their first two albums as a package and signing them for future releases.)

Animal Collective returned in May 2004 with Sung Tongs, a mysterious, fragilely melodic album that garnered even more critical acclaim and spawned a series of tours. Panda Bear issued Young Prayer, his solo debut, in September 2004. The Prospect Hummer EP, which featured a collaboration with Vashti Bunyan, appeared in May 2005, and the full-length Feels followed in October of that year.

In January 2007 they signed to Domino Records. Panda Bear Released another LP, ‘Person Pitch’ which was a major departure from his last efforts. On September 11th, 2007 Animal Collective released the album Strawberry Jam, featuring lead single ‘Peacebone’. (-) collapse