PRESS
-
Mi and L'au | Review
()
Mojo Magazine (UK) | Sophie Harrisimbued with a spookiness, fragility, and beauty unique to fairytales December 05 3 stars Gauzy, sparse folk sounds It's folly to think that in order to make a groundbreaking record, it has to be overtly weird, 'modern'-sounding, and Mi and L'au prove this to defiantly understated effect. He is French, she Finnish, a one-time model. Having met and fallen in love, the pair retreated to an isolated cabin in Finland, which is where the album was recorded. Given their story, it's no surprise that these songs are imbued with a spookiness, fragility and beauty unique to fairytales and folklore. Mi's voice is whispery and exposed (a little like Stina Nordenstam), L'au's brittle and sticky. Instrumentation is largely minimal (guitar, bass, glockenspiel), skeletal even - though when fleshed out with strings, it reaches a yearning fullness that recalls Gorecki's Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs (as on Word In Your Belly). What a find....
-
Akron/Family & Angels of Light | Review
()
Mojo Magazine (UK) | Sophie HarrisZep-style wig outs and shamanic incantationsDecember 05 4 stars Michael Gira united with his "favorite band in the universe". Not for nothing has Michael Gira employed Akron/Family as his Angels of Light and split a record with them - half Akron, half Angels. The first side demonstrates that Akron/Family don't just make music together, the really PLAY together, messing with sound in the same way that kids dribble spit to see how far it'll go. Strictly speaking, theirs is a kind of modern folk music, in that real, acoustic instruments mingle with four part harmonies. But the Akrons' musical connection and skill allows for wild, instinctual experimentalism (Zep-style wig outs and shamanic incantations). Gira joins the troupe for the record's second half - at once commanding, terrifying, and weirdly paternal. Heady, bodily, beautiful stuff....
-
Akron/Family and Angels of Light | Review
()
Mojo Magazine (UK) | Sophie Harris...at once commanding, terrifying, and weirdly paternal. Heady, bodily, beautiful stuff. December 05 4 stars Michael Gira united with his "favorite band in the universe". Not for nothing has Michael Gira employed Akron/Family as his Angels of Light and split a record with them - half Akron, half Angels. The first side demonstrates that Akron/Family don't just make music together, the really PLAY together, messing with sound in the same way that kids dribble spit to see how far it'll go. Strictly speaking, theirs is a kind of modern folk music, in that real, acoustic instruments mingle with four part harmonies. But the Akrons' musical connection and skill allows for wild, instinctual experimentalism (Zep-style wig outs and shamanic incantations). Gira joins the troupe for the record's second half - at once commanding, terrifying, and weirdly paternal. Heady, bodily, beautiful stuff....
-
Mi and L'au | Review
()
Arthur Magazinesongs sung by a Finnish waif in the key of airFrom "C & D" CD Review Column December 05 C: Like old weird Tom Waits fairground songs sung by a Finnish waif in the key of air. And accompanied by a humble-voiced post-Nic Drake haunted gentleman from France. These are closely recorded, delicate songs‹that is there's tape hiss and falling rain and throat clearing‹written to each other, based on a lived natural intimacy. D: Reminds me of Mojave 3, when Rachel sang. C: Mi and L'au apparently lead quite the reclusive, romantic life together in the Finnish woods. Life beyond electricity. This seems to be happening a lot lately: younger musicians and artists retreating, or withdrawing, to rural settings, refusing to engage modern civilization except when necessary. Little Wings, Brightblack Morning Light definitely. But nature is also providing the setting for more promotional films and photographs: see Cat Power's live DVD, and Sleater-Kinney's The Woods, and Growing's work, and Six Organs of Admittance and Devendra and Feathers album covers, and stuff from the New Energy movement people, and these photos of Pearls and Brass. D: I think she's whispering along with her singing. A secret recording technique that I......
-
Akron/Family | Interview
()
cokemachineglow.com | Clayton Purdomwe geeked out high above the swamps listening to Zeppelin III and IV back to back.December 3, 05 If it's not apparent yet, allow me to blatantly admit that CMG loves Akron/Family. I mean, the augmented acoustics and delicate surrealism of the debut were enough to win our hearts, but the tenacious bastards refused to quit, backing up Young God head honcho Michael Gira on Angels of Light's metaphysical Sing "Other People" and sealing the deal with a face-melting split LP. These four scrappy lads sit high atop 2005, casting a shit-eating grin upon the sallow worms that would attempt to steal their crown. Well, maybe the grin wasn't shit-eating. These guys are actually quite nice, a fact evidenced by their willingness to talk to CMG's Clayton Purdom about Slayer, espresso and quasi-religious cults. If you ever meet them, buy them a drink, and be aware that 1) "AK AK" is pronounced "ack ack," so don't spell out the letters like an asshole, and 2) Michael Gira's last name is pronounced "jih-rah," with an emphasis on the second syllable, so don't call him "Geeruh" like an asshole. Seth Olinsky found time to email us while the band......