PRESS
-
Akron/Family & Angels of Light
()
www.kyndmusic.com | Dave Terpenya stunning array of 2, 3 and 4 part vocal harmonies that would make the Mormon Tabernacle Choir slink away in disgrace January '06Angels of Light & Akron/FamilyLet me see if I got this all straight. The four guys who make up Akron/Family are the same four guys who made (make?) up composer Michael Gira's (Swan) latest Angels of Light backing band. And after touring with them, Gira decided he had to record them, and thus their debut album on Young God Records. I think that's it in a nutshell, historically. But where did Akron/Family come from? While their music suggests that they sprung magically from a dusty record bin in a vintage vinyl store, in fact they come from Williamsport, Pennsylvania (Seth Olinsky & Dana Janssen, various instruments, vocals), Porterville, California (Miles Seaton, various instruments, vocals), and Union Springs New York (Ryan Vanderhoof, various instruments, vocals) respectively. And from these far-flung locations they came to New York City in search of the "thread of real magic still winding through this city's music scene."It's important to note at this time that they are not a family band, as is most likely evident from the 4 different surnames, and they are not from anyplace called......
-
Akron/Family & Angels of Light | Review
()
Houston Chronicle | Andrew DansbyThe first eight minutes of this album are a neck-twisting contrast to Akron/Family's self-titled debut Jan. 5, 2006, 4:16PMA fidgety band eager to play with identityAngels of Light with Akron/FamilyAkron/Family & Angels of LightLike a nightmarish version of the Beach Boys, pastoral art rock troupe Akron/Family throws together a haunting, chanting harmony vocal (dressed with just a hint of piano), to open its split album Awake with post-punk icon Michael Gira's Angels of Light. The vocals remain chantlike, but the mood swiftly takes a left turn with some monstrous feedback on Moment, a scary singalong that transforms into an engaging drone before the guitars make a semifamiliar racket.The first eight minutes of this album are a neck-twisting contrast to Akron/Family's self-titled debut (released last summer), but as whiplash goes, it feels good to find a fidgety band eager to play with identity. For a cheap reference point, think of the group as My Morning Jacket's fuzzy avant-garde cousin from upstate New York.The album's tone changes on the final five songs. These are new recordings by Angels of Light, the stationary name for the rotating collective of musicians led by Gira. Backed by Akron/Family (they've been his Angels......
-
Angels of Light & Akron/Family | Review
()
www.sfburning.com "Come For My Woman" sounds like it could be in a Sergio Leone filmDecember '05Angels of Light & Akron/FamilyAkron/Family & Angels of LightYoung God RecordsA few years ago Michael Gira did some folk music. Later he released some records by Devendra Banhart. Now he has a band of four Devendras. It is pretty interesting results. "Awake" is almost Beatlesque. That goes into the crazy Captain Beefheart jazz of "Moment." Some of the Akron stuff is folk music and some is psychedelic rock. "Raising The Sparks" is much like some cool Prog Rock. Gira covers a Dylan song "I Pity The Poor Immigrant." The song "The Provider" reminds me the most of The Swans. "One For Hope" is a really lovely sounding song. "Mother/Father" is really a new version of an old Swans songs. Gira makes it sound very tribal. "Come For My Woman" sounds like it could be in a Sergio Leone film. Gira has done a lot of recent interesting music in the past three years. Hopefully this is not overlooked....
-
Akron/Family & Angels of Light | Review
()
411mania.com | Brian Berrybeautiful, western tinged songs, befitting an evening spent in front of a campfirePosted on 01.11.2006RADIO FREE BERRY'S BOOMBOX PICKS OF THE WEEKWhat a unique treat, I found in this split album (seven tracks by Akron/Family, five by Angels of Light) released in late October of 2005. Akron/Family is an acoustically minded band from New York, yet they are not afraid to tamper with experimental or electronic elements, in their unique brand of folk. A stand out track on their half of the album is "Moment," which in the course of five minutes transitions from free jazz experimentalist metal to down tempo, neck bobbing funk backed by in-unison harmonizing, to a jazziness not unlike Tortoise by way of a jam band, and finally dissolving into twangy, vocal dominated country backed by tambourines. The strange thing is their sound isn't jarring nor do the transitions feel out of place. No two songs sound anything remotely alike, which is a welcome attraction to this young reporter.Angels of Light is Michael Gira, a producer, spoken word artist, and former member of avant-garde legends Swans(!). Gira uses Angels of Light as an avenue for his songwriting and acoustic guitar playing, to which he......
-
Akron/Family | Review
()
30music.com | m.w. a fully realized orchestrated folk-rock onslaughtJan 06Akron/Family's self titled debut is lo-fi majesty at its most grandeur. Leading the way is the undeniable power of vocal variations from hushed, ethereal melodies, to a wailing tenor of sheer magnitude. The music is brooding, but full and complete, with guitar, banjo, bass, and drums foremost, and ambient electronic fuzz and textures complimenting every space. Akron/Family have come up with a fully realized orchestrated folk-rock onslaught, balancing around cathartic and captivating outbursts and sing-a-longs, and melancholic outback atmospheres of enticing primitiveness. The patient pacing of the album only grows, just as it does on the listener with every new listen....