Animal Collective are set to release their latest LP, Painting With, early this year. The album comes with a twist, one of the groups founding members, Deakin, will not be on the new record.

There is talk that he’s working on a solo release of his own. There’s been rumors of this for a while, Stereogum reports, but Pete “Sonic Boom” Kember, a one-time member of Spaceman 3 and a frequent Panda Bear collaborator, offered an updated in a post to the fan forum Collected Animals.

I dont think Deakins lp is ready yet …..
He has a really sick set of songs though ……some stunning stuff ….
Reminded me of Nirvana , soft cell , 13th floor elevators & skip spence ( one if Noah’s faves)

All recording is done & i think he has a bit of mixing to do , but i know he has it all on
the boil & ready to finally give out …..a book too i believe ….
Looks like a full year …

No dates or official confirmation yet.

Panda Bear, aka Noah Lennox, and Deakin are childhood friends and are always working together. Animal Collective has been active since 2000, but Deakin has toured throughout 2010 as a solo artist, playing original material. He rejoined the band for 2012’s Centipede Hz.