Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished
Encyclopedia
Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished is the first album
by Baltimore
based band Animal Collective
, released in August 2000 under the name Avey Tare and Panda Bear. The album was released as a CD on the band's own Animal label (now known as Paw Tracks
), and only 2000 copies were made. It has since been re-released as a double CD along with Danse Manatee
in 2003 on FatCat Records. Now available on limited edition vinyl for the first time through FatCat Records. Both UK and US pressings will use DMM mastering with UK version being 180g, released on June 8, 2009. US version will not be 180g with release date TBA.
(David Portner) from 1997 to 1999, except for "Penny Dreadfuls" which was written when he was 16 years old. The process was strongly inspired by his move from Baltimore
to New York
, describing it as a "dark time" with Brian Weitz (Geologist) being his only friend in the city.
Portner and Panda Bear
(Noah Lennox) recorded the acoustic guitar and the drums live onto a Tascam
48 inch eight-track reel-to-reel in Portner's bedroom in Maryland
during the summer of 1999. The piano songs along with overdubs
were recorded in Portner's parents' living room.
Portner wanted the guitar to be "jangled to create this fluttering feeling".
An old Roland SH-2 synthesizer
, which Brian Weitz' brother found stored in a camp, was used for the bass sounds. The drums were played with brushes to emulate the albums Ocean Rain
and Forever Changes
. Avey Tare would dictate what he wanted the rhythm to be through beatboxing
. Other sounds, such as the majority of "Spirit They've Vanished", were created through the use of feedback loops.
Included with the original release was an insert with the following story:
There has been some confusion about the album's tracklisting. On the original, limited release, the untitled track #3 was not listed along with the other songs. Since the tracklisting gave no corresponding track numbers to the rest of the songs, it was incorrectly assumed that tracks #3-9 were actually titled as tracks #4-10 are here, and that "Alvin Row" had no title. This error appears in nearly every review of Spirit following its initial release in 2000. The 2003 Fat Cat
reissue cleared up this misunderstanding by numbering the songs and leaving a blank space for track #3.
(Josh Dibb) helped with the promotion and sent packages to record companies. Portner remembers in an Interview: "Southern Records
called us back immediately and said ‘Is there something wrong with this? This music makes our dogs run out of the room’!"
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
based band Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
, released in August 2000 under the name Avey Tare and Panda Bear. The album was released as a CD on the band's own Animal label (now known as Paw Tracks
Paw Tracks
Paw Tracks is an independent record label based in Washington, D.C. The label's website features artwork by Abby Portner ....
), and only 2000 copies were made. It has since been re-released as a double CD along with Danse Manatee
Danse Manatee
Danse Manatee is the second album by Baltimore based band Animal Collective, released in July 2001 on Catsup Plate under the name Avey Tare, Panda Bear and Geologist. Only 1000 copies were made for the Catsup Plate release, but it has since been re-released as a double CD along with Spirit They're...
in 2003 on FatCat Records. Now available on limited edition vinyl for the first time through FatCat Records. Both UK and US pressings will use DMM mastering with UK version being 180g, released on June 8, 2009. US version will not be 180g with release date TBA.
Background
All of the songs were written by Avey TareAvey Tare
Avey Tare is a musician and founding member of Animal Collective. Portner lives in Brooklyn, NY.-Animal Collective:...
(David Portner) from 1997 to 1999, except for "Penny Dreadfuls" which was written when he was 16 years old. The process was strongly inspired by his move from Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, describing it as a "dark time" with Brian Weitz (Geologist) being his only friend in the city.
Portner and Panda Bear
Panda Bear (musician)
Noah Benjamin Lennox also known as Panda Bear, is an experimental musician and a founding member of Animal Collective.-Early life:...
(Noah Lennox) recorded the acoustic guitar and the drums live onto a Tascam
TASCAM
TASCAM is the professional audio division of TEAC Corporation, headquartered in Montebello, California. Tascam is credited as the inventor of the Portastudio, the first cassette-based multi-track home studio recorders. Tascam also introduced the first low-cost mass produced multitrack recorders...
48 inch eight-track reel-to-reel in Portner's bedroom in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
during the summer of 1999. The piano songs along with overdubs
Overdubbing
Overdubbing is a technique used by recording studios to add a supplementary recorded sound to a previously recorded performance....
were recorded in Portner's parents' living room.
Portner wanted the guitar to be "jangled to create this fluttering feeling".
An old Roland SH-2 synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, which Brian Weitz' brother found stored in a camp, was used for the bass sounds. The drums were played with brushes to emulate the albums Ocean Rain
Ocean Rain
Ocean Rain is the fourth studio album by the British post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen. It was released on 8 May 1984 and reached number four on the UK Albums Chart, number 87 on the United States Billboard 200, number 41 on the Canadian RPM 100 Albums and number 22 on the Swedish chart. Since...
and Forever Changes
Forever Changes
Forever Changes is the third album by American rock band Love, released by Elektra Records in November 1967. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Forever Changes 40th in its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time...
. Avey Tare would dictate what he wanted the rhythm to be through beatboxing
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
. Other sounds, such as the majority of "Spirit They've Vanished", were created through the use of feedback loops.
Artwork
The original cover art was found by Avey who thought that it fit nicely. The album was intended to be released under Avey Tare's name alone, but he was so impressed by Panda Bear's drumming that he added Panda's name on the front cover. This method of choosing monikers for Animal Collective's recorded output—naming themselves after who played on each respective album—would last until 2003's Campfire Songs.Included with the original release was an insert with the following story:
Track listing
- "Spirit They've Vanished" – 5:35
- "April and the Phantom" – 5:53
- (Untitled) – 2:58
- "Penny Dreadfuls" – 7:58
- "Chocolate Girl" – 8:28
- "Everyone Whistling" – 1:00
- "La Rapet" – 7:52
- "Bat You'll Fly" – 5:03
- "Someday I'll Grow to Be As Tall As the Giant" – 3:10
- "Alvin Row" – 12:39
There has been some confusion about the album's tracklisting. On the original, limited release, the untitled track #3 was not listed along with the other songs. Since the tracklisting gave no corresponding track numbers to the rest of the songs, it was incorrectly assumed that tracks #3-9 were actually titled as tracks #4-10 are here, and that "Alvin Row" had no title. This error appears in nearly every review of Spirit following its initial release in 2000. The 2003 Fat Cat
Fat Cat Records
Fat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
reissue cleared up this misunderstanding by numbering the songs and leaving a blank space for track #3.
Trivia
Later Animal Collective fellow DeakinDeakin (musician)
Deakin is an avant-garde musician and a founding member of Animal Collective.-Animal Collective:Josh Dibb began writing and recording music with childhood friend Noah Lennox in 1991. While at The Park School in Baltimore, Josh met David Portner and Brian Weitz when they asked him to join their...
(Josh Dibb) helped with the promotion and sent packages to record companies. Portner remembers in an Interview: "Southern Records
Southern Records
Southern Records is an independent record label closely associated with Crass Records, Corpus Christi Records and Dischord Records. It is based in London and previously had offices in Chicago , Le Havre and Berlin .Southern was originally a recording studio owned and operated by John Loder...
called us back immediately and said ‘Is there something wrong with this? This music makes our dogs run out of the room’!"
Personnel
- Avey TareAvey TareAvey Tare is a musician and founding member of Animal Collective. Portner lives in Brooklyn, NY.-Animal Collective:...
- acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, vocals, Sequential CircuitsSequential CircuitsSequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
, synthesizers, tapes - Panda BearPanda Bear (musician)Noah Benjamin Lennox also known as Panda Bear, is an experimental musician and a founding member of Animal Collective.-Early life:...
- "perfect percussion"