akron/family: s/t
angels of light: sing other people
If a UFO hijacked a bunch of good old boys jamming on their back porch,
Deliverance style, the music of the Akron/Family would be the likely result.
This rural psychedelic quartet combines high lonesome hill vocals with
beautiful harmonies and acoustic instruments with electronic space age
flourishes. Their music sometimes moves like sap through a tree pushing out
a rich organic fluid that oozes like a backwoods Beach Boy symphony. At
times they build up cacophonic climaxes but soon relax into their strange
but satisfying folk territory. Michael Gira (late of The Swans,) was so
captivated by the sound of the Akron/Family that he joined forces with them
for his latest release. There’s no escaping thoughts of his former band when
you hear Gira sing, he still possesses that serious tone of gloom even as
the music burbles brightly behind him. The result is a record somewhat at
cross purposes, with the lively backup set off by Gira’s grim intonation.
Unless the listener is already a fan of Gira, The Angels of Light record may
be a challenge. Conversely, The Akron/Family CD should easily appeal to
followers of the new experimental folk scene.