Animal Collective stream alien stadium rock

Three. Two. One. One. One.

Cymbals crash like white noise and a lumbering bass line rumbles into the mix. Then the stabs of stadium-rock guitar thrash with Sleigh Bells volume.

This is the new Animal Collective album?

Yes, and its spacey psych-pop will blow up your headphones and stereo alike.
“Centipede Hz” is supposed to capture the vibe of an alien band beaming transmissions down to Earth. If that sounds tongue-in-cheek, you don’t know this band.

The genre—defying and —defining indie elders debuted their 11th album on their own custom web radio Aug. 19, a fittingly sincere bit of fan service from the increasingly digestible group.

But “Centipede Hz” sounds more than accessible. It sounds anthemic.

Like, children’s choir anthemic.

The album’s immediately catchy songwriting and alien-band high concept should probably come off as forced.

Instead, “Centipede Hz” is yet another bold reimagination of Animal Collective’s sound.
“Merriweather Post Pavilion” (2009) and “Strawberry Jam” (2007) proved the band could attain indie mainstream success with its well-honed pop songwriting.

There was little left to prove except whether Animal Collective’s lineup of husbands and dads could still rock.

Turns out they can.

If “Merriweather” was the band’s bubbly chillwave album, “Centipede Hz” is its stadium rock album.

Shortly after its dramatic countdown, opener “Moonjock” explodes into “Magical Mystery Tour” and Olivia Tremor Control levels of psych madness.

Founding member Avey Tare (Dave Portner) continues the style he refined on his 2010 solo album “Down There” with “Applesauce,” one of the album’s most straightforward pop treats.

Like most of the songs on “Centipede Hz,” it recklessly bounces from melody to melody and delves deep into its weirder moments.

Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), back on a full drum kit for the first time in five years, outdoes himself on the album’s crushing centerpiece “New Town Burnout.”

From its thumping bass beat, the song launches into a church organ-fueled, warp-speed trip.

Beautiful closer “Amanita” rides out the album’s energy on a cresting wave of psych joy.

The record’s sonic density is courtesy of returning “Merriweather” producer Ben Allen, who imbues “Centipede Hz” with IMAX 3-D clarity without losing the band’s manic energy.

These melodies and vocal flourishes deserve to be high in the mix, as if Animal

Collective were front and center before an audience of thousands.

“Centipede Hz” delivers just that level of fun grandeur.

If you’re up for the ride, it’s hard not to smile and pump your fist the whole way through.

By Patrick Beane