- THE zookeepers - giant black taco

Giant Black Taco is the album The Unicorns’ younger brothers would make. It’s party music for the leprechauns jumping up and down inside your head. If you’re finding Islands difficult (let’s face it, they’re pretty dull) then The Zookeepers could well be the band you’re looking for.

They’ve been putting out records since 2005, self releasing two LPs, two EPs, and a single only available on floppy disk. They’ve gone from being something of a joke band (by their own admittance) to support act for such luminaries as The Mae Shi, Chicago rap duo Yea Big + Kid Static and JEFF The Brotherhood.

Giant Black Taco is their latest release. Clocking in at just over 20 minutes, it’s somewhere between and LP and an EP. As band member Cooper explains, "It can be either. I guess it depends on how much time the listener has to spare."

The whole record teeters on the edge of a shambles. It’s like you’re with the band on that bus at the end of the Italian job. Except instead of trying to steady it, The Zookeepers are throwing a party, jumping around like loons, giving not one flying fuck whether their exuberance tips us all over the edge.

They mix genres like your favourite bartender mixes drinks - everything in generous measure with the end result getting you good and intoxicated. There’s flashes of Brainiac and Enon, Liars and ExModels. Dashes of Deerhoof, SoSo Modern, Stephen Malkmus and Animal Collective.

All in all, I can’t work out if they’re taking the piss, or just genuinely having a most excellent time. Either way, a good time for the listener is guaranteed.