I’m here writing live at the Mesa Luna for an all ages show featuring experimental groups Black Dice and Animal Collective. The ear-splitting sound checks have lead me to thing the night will be interesting for sure. I was able to snag Eric Copeland from Black Dice for an interview, and Panda Bear (Noel) from Animal Collective for a quick 10 questions, just as he was munching on Nachos just before the show. Be sure to check them out.

The Mesa Luna is not the spectator’s best friend for live shows, and there are only a handful of tables within view of the stage. The upside is that the two bands are able to offer an all ages show, something of a rarity in Vancouver. I’m sitting such that I’m looking straight down at the heads of the crowd before the stage; the band members’ heads are cut off by a ledge as in a bad picture. As for the crowd, somebody forgot to tell them it isn’t the 80’s anymore.

Animal Collective, first on the stage, plays for half an hour before they break to introduce themselves. The sounds are like an ocean, washing over me. Despite volume considerably higher than most ambient is enjoyed at, the music is actually very soothing. It draws me slowly in; time flies while I’m caught in the sound.

Animal Collective doesn’t seem to be fans of much bass, preferring the crashing twang of guitars backed by a steady beat.

Just a second; the singer is screaming so loud that I can’t hear my thoughts…

Now then; the music actually reminds me a lot of Broken Social Scene during the quieter parts. The makeup of the group, with 2 guitars, really doesn’t tell me anything about the sound I can expect. It does sound almost like animals at points, and lush in others. I’ve never understood what people mean when they say “wall of sound”, but this seems to fit the description rather well. The band member sitting cross legged in the middle of the tiny, packed stage is bent over blinking devices and providing hugely varied sounds, and nodding his head to the beat.

The group reminds me of monkeys at the end of the set, screaming and jumping around. But who knew monkeys could create such wonderful sounds?

I don’t notice Black Dice take over from the house music until I get back to my table, drink in hand. It soon becomes obvious; the noises are piling up on top of each other quickly. Looking like a mad physics experiment gone wrong, the members of Black Dice play the part of mad scientists, twisting knobs to create sound. There is a guitar (a thrashed looking Les Paul) but the music here is not recognizable in terms of instruments. I don’t know what the hundred knobs on each of the members’ electronic gear do, and I wonder if even they do.

Without a beat, or much bass to speak of, the noises are harsh, and demand attention. Each sound progresses, but I only notice the changes after a time, as it is gradual.

I get the feeling this is what Radiohead would sound like if all of them started playing with electronics instead of just one…

The music is nearly impossible to describe. At times it sounds like a war, and alien invasion, R2D2, a waterfall, and a broken TV. Sometimes all at once. The array of clicks, beeps, and crashes creates a range of sounds and emotions; some disappear, some shout for notice, and some confuse.

This is not background music, nor is it easy listening. Already though, I find that I can’t keep the music in my head, as it slips away as quickly as the sound does.

By Ryan Ince
Photos : label websites
Published : November 15, 2004.