ZABA
Though they hail from the UK, Glass Animals thrive in hot, humid environs. The Oxford outfit’s 2014 debut feels like a late-night rainforest cruise into uncharted territory, powered by tropical grooves and ayahuasca-induced weirdness. Even as he guides you through the drum-circle ceremony of “Walla Walla” and jungle rumble of “Pools,” singer David Bayley remains a smooth tour operator, countering the percussive propulsion with a cool, melodic sensibility that’s equal parts James Blake and Thom Yorke.
The Oxford quartet create a phenomenal debut LP that's refreshingly dangerous and thoroughly invigorating.
When Glass Animals frontman Dave Bayley says he’s into cerebral music, he means it.
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“Put your hand down boy, welcome to my zoo,” beckons Glass Animals frontman Dave Bayley on Toes, one of many ornate tracks in the Oxford quartet's menagerie. Alt-J may have married spindly indie rock with flirtatious nerdiness in 2012, but this lot infuse a psychedelic and tropical charm into their sultry debut ZABA.
For the last couple of years, Oxford-via-London quartet Glass Animals has wooed listeners with a steady stream of singles and remixes. "Psylla" and "Black Mambo" exhibited a sound somewhere between the dark, enveloping trip-hop of Massive Attack and weird
Album review: Glass Animals - Zaba. "Blessed with musical facets that will blind you with their splendour…"
The Oxford band's debut ticks boxes for coolness – but none for originality, writes <strong>Paul Mardles</strong>
Review of 'Zaba' the new album from Glass Animals, the full length LP comes out next week on Harvest Records. The first single off 'Zaba' is "Gooey"