Often overshadowed by the overwhelming success of his bandmate Panda Bear, many are probably unaware that Avey Tare—one-fourth of Animal Collective—works as a solo artist as well. Down There, his solo debut, takes the listener on an adventure through the depths of murky swamps, riding distorted synths and bass-heavy sampling to return thoroughly satisfied at the other end.

The album reveals Tare’s unconventional pop sensibility and sense of restraint. Songs average an accessible three to four minutes in length, and rather than overwhelm the listener with an exhaustive audio journey, each track seamlessly fades into the next.

“Laughing Hieroglyphic,” Down There‘s first track, features a pulsating accordion as Avey Tare’s voice takes the forefront, passionately singing, “It’s so easy to get lost in the mixture/ When forces strike/ Hard.” While Animal Collective has focused on making vocals merely another component of their songs, Avey Tare’s voice is the driving force of the album, allowing the sampling and layers of sound to support the song rather than dictate its sound.

Avey Tare’s 34-minute album is one of the most cohesive and structured I’ve heard in a long time. Each twist and turn has a purpose, and the journey the listener begins on the first track feels complete and fulfilled by the end.