Review: Croz Boyce at AyurPrana Listening Room
A packed AyurPrana Listening Room welcomed Croz Boyce — the new side project from Animal Collective’s Dave “Avey Tare” Portner and Brian “Geologist” Weitz — on the evening of Sept. 8 with an undertow of curious anticipation. Joined by Adam McDaniel on synthesizer and guitar, the collaborators began playing in front of projected nature scenes — a gently meandering backdrop closely following and gradually deviating from the music.
The come-hither atmosphere allowed the deliberate and steady penetration through reality's mundane shell, challenging what is normally and readily perceived. And the instrumental soundscape was at once accessible, experimental, and grounding.
The dreamy and surreal effects pedals linked to Avey Tare's guitar simulated a journey through alternate states of consciousness, pairing well with the addition of synths and sampler to carefully craft sonic manipulations.
Geologist likewise didn't hold back on the experimental exploration, using synths and a sampler to essentially aid in the transportation of the listener to far corners of the world. He rotated between adjacent “sound stations" throughout the show, lending a compelling unpredictability to the band's musical direction.
Joining the Animal Collective members on this specific tour is McDaniel, typically participating behind the scenes and in the studio when it comes to his contribution to this genre. The founder of Asheville-based Drop of Sun Studios served as a tether in this live collaboration as Croz Boyce delivered a fresh, modern performance, thoroughly ambient, avant garde, and familiarly rooted in its interaction.
(Photo by Charlie Boss)
