Animal Collective at La Cigale

Nick Forrester writing for VINGT Paris

With no air conditioning at historic venue La Cigale, the hot summer evening gave the venue a muggy feel which lent to the air of anticipation. The cramped excitement you sometimes get at special gigs was due to the rare chance to see the reclusive Animal Collective, whose new album has received slightly intimidating worldwide acclaim.

However there wasn't a hint of arrogance or even showmanship from the three Baltimore musicians, who each have successful solo careers but come together under the tag 'collective'.

Together they attracted a faithful following wearing  furry masks, ensuring their pointy ears were silhouetted against the stage's impressive lighting effects.

The theatre has an upper and a lower balcony with removable seating. In the stalls a hydraulic platform allows it to change from Orchestral Gallery to rock concert pit and cater for just about everything in between. For larger gigs, this platform slopes down to the stage and bounced slightly as they played the likes of Summertime Clothes. 

Their new album Merriweather Post Pavillion (January 2009) is one of the best rated of the year,  Uncut said "It feels like one of the landmark American albums of the century so far", so it is difficult to know quite what to add, except that for such a widely acclaimed and progressive album this was a surprisingly lively and charming performance.

Next up at La Cigale (16th September) is Metronomy, the Brighton based electronic band, renowned for their live shows with a cracking bunch of tunes and remixes as well as decent light show and La Cigale should provide a more than adequate home.