Centipede Hz

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Centipede Hz is Animal Collective’s ninth studio album, released on September 4, 2012, by Domino Records. It marks the return of Deakin, who had sat out the band’s previous album, Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009). The album peaked at No. 16 on the US Billboard 200.

Recording and production
- Recorded January–February 2012 at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and mixed at Maze Studios in Atlanta.
- Ben H. Allen III returned as co-producer.
- The band aimed for a more grounded, live-band feel and used real drums and keyboards.
- This is the first Animal Collective album with Deakin on lead vocals on a track (“Wide Eyed”).

Musical direction
- Centipede Hz moves away from the lush sound design of Merriweather Post Pavilion toward surreal, noisy textures and complex song structures.
- Influences include psychedelic rock, Chicha, Tropicália, and avant-garde music.
- Radio commercials, station identifications, and sounds of radio interference are integrated as textures, inspired by live performances and aim to recreate a live sound in the studio.

Release details
- Announced May 13, 2012. Available as standard CD, standard 2xLP, and deluxe 2xLP, with a bonus DVD featuring the band’s 2011 Prospect Park show.
- Centipede Radio began July 29, 2012, leading up to the release; the first single, “Today’s Supernatural,” premiered the same day. A music video followed on August 16, 2012, and the album was streamed in full on August 19 with accompanying videos.

Reception and impact
- The album received generally favorable reviews, with Metacritic around 75/100.
- Critics praised its bold, abrasive texture and the return to more experimental roots, though some found the dense sound cluttered.
- It debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200, about 17,000 copies sold in the first week, and charted at No. 6 on the Rock Albums chart and No. 5 on the Alternative Albums chart. By January 2016, US sales were about 47,000 copies.
- All tracks are written by Animal Collective.

Singles
- “Today’s Supernatural” (July 29, 2012)
- “Applesauce” (November 12, 2012)