The Lovers' Album of the Week

Animal Collective Prospect Hummer EP (featuring Vashti Bunyan)

If you're like me, you never even heard of Vashti Bunyan or her sole album, Just Another Diamond Day, prior to Devendra Banhart and the entire "freak-folk" movement. And I must admit, I still don't know that much about the woman or her music other than the 30 sec samples allowed through iTunes. What does come through, though, is that her approach to folk music is different from her peers (Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Dylan, etc.). I had a friend mention to me recently that he thought folk music would be making a big comeback due to the current state of affairs in America. I'm not sure that's true. To me, this neo hippie folk movement coming out from folks like Banhart and Joanna Newsom, and for which Bunyan is being labeled the Mother of, is less concerned about the world around them than the sweet and innocent world they have created within themselves. The music of Bunyan also seems to turn its head away from political matters and instead favors melodies that are dedicated to nature ("Lily Pond," Rainbow River," "Winter Is Blue" etc.). After the initially unsuccessful 1970 release, Just Another Diamond Day, Bunyan apparently left the music business all together to focus on a family. Thirty-five years later, Bunyan is back. Only this time it's not a solo album but a collaboration with the continuously fascinating Animal Collective. I never really thought of Animal Collective as part of the same crowd as Banhart and Newsom, but I do deem "freak-folk" as an adequate description of their type of music. Actually, Prospect Hummer is less chaotic than previous Animal Collective releases as it more resembles Panda Bear's (aka Noah Lennox) solo album, Young Prayer. The opener, "It's You," is a beautiful meditation of strings and voice that highlight Bunyan's strength as a vocalist. And when Panda Bear joins her halfway you are ready to sign the petition to have her as a permanent member of the band. Every one joins in on the very playful "Prospect Hummer," a tune that makes me conjure up images of Bunyan leading an odd campfire sing-a-long. The only weak track here is the instrumental "Baleen Sample," which was recorded at a different time than the rest of the EP and comes off feeling like filler material. The closing number "I Remember Learning How To Drive" is so far removed from my friend's folk revival prediction that it makes me feel hopeful for the world that inspires these artists. If there is to be an influx of politically charged music I predict that it will be loud and angry. Thank God we are given these alternate worlds to dwell in if only for awhile...