PRESS
AKRON/FAMILY MATTERS
TIME OUT NY #493 | E. MEISTER
joyful, passionate, and intense
Three words most often used by the members of Akron/Family to describe anything are joyful, passionate, and intense, so it¹s not surprising that those adjectives apply to their self-titled debut: An ecstatic amalgam of found noise, instrumental noodling, and off-kilter harmonies, the Family¹s heavily textured sound is born out of a childlike (but not naïve) love of life, each other, and ³silly hippie music.²The ordered chaos of the record is thanks in part to Michael Gira, the Young God records label chief who became something of a spirit animal for the band during the recording. Guitarist Seth Olinski says the art-punk icon ³has this amazing passion that he poured into us. He showed us how to play with conviction and courage.² That confidence shines in the band¹s work on on Gira¹s latest Angels of Light record, Olinski says. ³Michael was willing to take a chance. We don¹t sound like what people think Michael Gira sounds like.²
Live, the Family improvises freely (and loudly), but not without admitting an obligation to an audience. ³We have a responsibility to express not just our personal feelings, but something big that people are trying to tap into,² bassist Miles Seaton says. ³If we¹re alienating them, it¹s not going to blow their minds, it¹s just going to shut their ears.²