Animal Collective Releasing New Music With Sneaker Line

Do you ever want to walk in indie-psych rock band Animal Collective's shoes? Well, now you can -- literally. The group has teamed up with Keep to design its first pair of sneakers, with more to follow from each band member. The first edition is from Avey Tare and features a ghost pattern on a canvas body. In keeping with the old-school aesthetic of this new footware, advance orders also come with a cassette of unreleased Animal Collective music.

All profits of the Animal Collective line of shoes are being donated to the Socorro Island Conservation Fund, setting this apart from the usual musician-turned-designer move.

"After much discussion we decided we wanted to give money to a small under-funded organization to which we felt a personal connection," said Animal Collective's Brian Weitz (aka. Geologist). "Josh [Dibb] and I have been scuba diving together for a number of years and the Revillagigedos was one of the most amazing places I have ever seen. Hopefully this project will protect the animals of the Revillagigedos through at least one more fishing season and draw more attention to the global problem of illegal fishing."

Dibb also goes on to add "the trip that Brian and I took to the Revillagigedos in 2007 has driven me to go diving when I can and learn as much as I can about the state and health (or lack thereof) of our oceans. Whereas I once saw sharks as a potentially frightening creature and little else, I have come to understand that they are a crucial part of a highly stressed and collapsing ecosystem."

Such news comes as Animal Collective are in a bit of a hibernation period after 2009's critically lauded 'Merriweather Post Pavilion.' Earlier this year, they did a project for the Guggenheim and released a DVD this past summer called 'ODDSAC,' but the members have mostly been gearing up for their own solo projects. Panda Bear's 'Tomboy,' the follow-up to 2007's remarkable 'Person Pitch,' is due at some point soon, as well as Avey Tare's solo debut, 'Down There,' set for release on Oct. 26.

Pre-orders for the Avey Tare sneakers are now underway through Oct. 31, with shipping expected in March 2011.