This is the long awaited solo debut from Deakin aka Josh Dibb of Animal Collective. While Panda Bear, Avey Tare and Geologist have been releasing solo material for about as long as Animal Collective has existed, Deakin has played it pretty close to the chest, only releasing this, his first ever solo recordings, quietly on cassette in 2016. The material was conceived between 2010 and 2016, and recorded with a string of collaborators who will be familiar to anyone who’s kept up with AnCo over the years: Tim Dewit (formerly of Gang Gang Dance), producer Nicolas Vernhes and Pete Kember (Sonic Boom, Spacemen 3, Spectrum) all helped out at various stages. I've always considered Deakin sort of 'the guitar guy' in the band, and this record is sure to satisfy anyone who digs the freaky folk sounds of Feels and Strawberry Jam more than their electronics-heavy later records. Dibb explains: “Sleep Cycle is about the cycles that we go through being shut down by fear and doubt and how to return back to being awake to life. The songs were written as a form of self medication, meditations on waking up in the face of fear.” This first-ever vinyl edition has been newly remastered and is housed in a full-color gatefold sleeve with download code.

• long-awaited solo debut from Deakin of Animal Collective
• black vinyl pressing
• originally released on cassette in 2016
• newly remastered
• gatefold jacket
• digital download included
• music label: Domino 2019

reviewed by big kahuna burger 11/2019