Music history has a tradition of borrowing what came before to make something new. Even the geniuses of a genre crib from their predecessors. So, what separates innovation from imitation? The answer is the ability to reimagine the past in a new way. The JUNO-60 takes center stage on Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion. The result is a melodic kaleidoscope, exemplified by “My Girls.”
Nostalgia as the Future
With Roland synths and samplers in hand, Animal Collective decamped to record 2009’s Merriweather Post Pavilion. At the time, the band wasn’t looking to repackage the ’80s with synthesizers. Rather, they sought to recontextualize nostalgia as future music. The result was a psychedelic masterwork. Ultimately, it owed as much to the JUNO-60’s legendary arpeggiator as the “freak folk” genre they helped establish.
In a cozy Mississippi studio, Animal Collective set up their live PA. Initially, the idea was to reference how new songs might sound live. Performing through speakers rather than programming, they made a discovery. They could transform synth and sample-based music into something organic. Moreover, this kept the beautiful imperfections intact.
"The result was a psychedelic masterwork. It owed as much to the JUNO-60’s legendary arpeggiator as the “freak folk” genre."
A Track that Breathes
In essence, “My Girls” is the pinnacle of the Animal Collective revolution. Nostalgia-hawks M83 simply programmed vintage Roland synths. By contrast, Animal Collective maximized the JUNO-60’s effects. Shimmering chorus, adjustable envelopes, and symphonic arpeggiator create a track that breathes. This Sturm und Drang glides across the stereo field.
Throughout, handclaps propel the song alongside Panda Bear’s melody. Stacked harmonies, orchestratal twinkles, a sampled kit fed through pads and oscillators. All hum through PA speakers. In effect, “My Girls” was a Pet Sounds for the Internet Age.
Vintage Innovation
Basically, “My Girls” succeeds not because Animal Collective used vintage gear. On the contrary, it’s because they used said gear in an innovative manner. Moreover, this is precisely why Animal Collective sounds so forward-thinking. They employed the same synths as Enya did decades earlier on 1988’s Watermark. This is a testament to both Animal Collective’s experimental savvy and the JUNO-60.
"Animal Collective maximized the JUNO-60's luscious effects. Shimmering chorus, adjustable envelopes, and symphonic arpeggiator create a track that breathes."
In essence, Animal Collective provides a roadmap for innovators. Tomorow’s orchestral pop classics will look to “My Girls” for inspiration. Lucky for us, synths like the JUNO-60 will still be here. Creative minds can push musical limits by reimagining current technology. In doing so, they make something new by viewing the past through a progressive lens.
