Grizzly Bear have been accused of leaking a song from Animal Collectiveโ€˜s forthcoming album.

Internet legal enforcer Web Sheriff identified the Brooklyn groupโ€™s blog as the โ€˜global-leak-sourceโ€™ of โ€œBrothersportโ€, the final song from โ€œMerriweather Post Pavilionโ€.

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However, Grizzly Bear now appear to have denied that they were the first to leak the song.

In an email to the band, Web Sheriff said: โ€œBoth the individuals collectively trading/performing as โ€˜Grizzly Bearโ€˜ and indeed, yourself [singer Ed Droste] are personally liable to our said clients for all commercial and other losses arising from this blatant act of piracy.โ€

Grizzly Bear posted an apology to the band and label Domino on the blog, but have now added in a separate post that they werenโ€™t the first to leak the song.

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โ€œThe song was played on a French podcast or radio program. Someone (not me) ripped the song. Many blogs posted the track. I was one of those blogs,โ€ explained Droste.

โ€œIt was my belief this was already โ€˜out thereโ€™ and was essentially like a hype track that would just further excite Animal Collective fans (myself included), so I wrongfully figured it was fair game. Sometimes itโ€™s hard to tell the unofficial โ€˜leakโ€™ with the official label-sanctioned โ€˜leakโ€™.

โ€œIf Iโ€™ve offended anyone in the Animal Collective family with my excited post, I apologize. It was meant to generate even more excitement for what will surely be a great album, and yes the Web Sheriff is just doing his job.โ€

Grizzly Bear side-project Department Of Eagles will play Club Uncut at The Borderline on December 3.

Read Uncut.co.ukโ€˜s Wild Mercury Sound blog on Animal Collectiveโ€™s โ€œMerriweather Post Pavilionโ€ here.