US band Animal Collective have told BBC 6Music they are planning to take an extended break, but are not splitting up.
The four-piece, originally from Maryland, released their critically-lauded eighth studio album ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion‘ last year, which they say left them ‘exhausted’.
Band member Noah Lennox aka Panda Bear told the radio station: “There was just so much touring for us. We’re not really road dogs. We were really happy with the record, so we wanted to put in a little extra this time. But it took its toll in terms of us just being exhausted. So I think all of us are trying to lay low just for a second.”
Asked whether the group was closed to ending, he replied: “There have been times in the past when I’ve thought we were done. So I don’t know, this could be it. I don’t expect it to be, I should say, but you never know.”
Panda Bear is now concentrating on solo work, and said his focus is now exclusively on his new album: “My focus right now is just to do this record and make sure I do my best with that, and then when that’s winding down, I feel like I’ll move my focus back to the group,” he said.
‘Tomboy‘, Panda Bear’s fourth solo album, is due for release in September.