Animal Collective have unveiled the new single “Gem & I” from their twelfth album, Isn’t It Now?, due September 29th.
The song has one of the longest paths to the upcoming record with the band initially testing it out at live shows as far back as 2019. Compared to preceding singles like the 22-minute epic “Defeat” and the psychedelic “Soul Capturer,” “Gem & I” amounts to a rather mellow jam with traces of tropical influences, glitchy harmonies, and splashes of warm, seraphic synths over a crisp, punchy drumbeat. Stream it below.
Isn’t It Now? arrives on September 29th via Domino and will serve as Animal Collective’s longest LP to-date with a 64-minute runtime. Pre-orders are ongoing.
During the intervening weeks before its release, Avey Tare will embark on a solo North American tour running through early October. Geologist is set to join as an opener on select dates. Grab seats to any remaining dates here.
Meanwhile, Panda Bear will play Austin’s Levitation Festival with Sonic Boom in late October.
