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Akron/Family & Angels Of Light | Review
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www.xsilence.netFrench ReviewLabel : Young God Records Sortie : lundi 31 octobre 2005 Format : Album / CD En bon tenancier de Young God Records qu'il est, Michael Gira propose en 2005 un split composé de titres de son dernier projet en date: Angels Of Light rejoint par les très frais Américains d'Akron/Family. Donc, ici 12 titres flirtant avec le folk, la country et le rock, le tout baignant dans un univers on ne peut plus... "cool"; pour ne pas dire psychédélique (en tout cas, pour le début de l'album). Oui, parce qu'en s'ouvrant tout d'abord par les sept compositions d'Akron/Family, ce split transpire littéralement d'une inspiration bab', comme si ce combo à la Devendra Banhart (la hype en moins et la folie en plus) souhaitait nous faire découvrir sa vision d'un rock planant, le tout en évitant honorablement les écueils caractérisés par cet ennui qui ne cesse de pointer le bout de son nez au bout de longues jams finalement très chiantes. Non, ici, Akron/Family parvient à faire mouche et nous sert même deux superbes titres avec "Dylan Pt. 2" et surtout ce "Raising The Sparks" alliant psychédélisme incantatoire et folie communicative sur fond de riffs électrifiés et refrains imparables.......
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Akron/Family & Angels of Light | Review
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S F East Bay Express | Mark Keresmanan astounding array of styles while projecting an oddly relaxed vibe S F East Bay Express Published: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 After dissolving the legendary noise-rock outfit Swans, mastermind Michael Gira turned to a less brutal, more acoustic, yet often just as disturbing approach with his new group, Angels of Light. For this split LP, he is backed by Brooklyn's Akron/Family, a quartet of singing multi-instrumentalists who also take over the record's first half, assimilating an astounding array of styles while projecting an oddly relaxed vibe -- there's no smug, golly-aren't-we-zany-and-eclectic artifice. The sparse, trippy Syd Barrett-like meditation of "Awake" is followed by "Moment," featuring a thrash/noise freakout that'd scare the Butthole Surfers, though it soon eases into agitated prog-rock before concluding with a backporch sing-along. Elsewhere, there's droning minimalism, Led Zeppelin-type rock, and Americana rusticity with great harmonies. Gira's set begins with a heartfelt (though slightly queasy) take on Dylan's timely-again "I Pity the Poor Immigrant," his deep, world-weary vocals perfectly befitting the subject matter. The most Swans-like track, though, is the eerie "Come for My Woman," its marching cadence suggesting a work song sung by a chain gang in Hell. Nice....
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Mi and L'au | Review
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New York Times | BEN RATLIFFMellow Guitars, Psychedelic Samba and the Odd Alarm ClockThe New York Times Playlist It doesn't get much more delicate than Mi and L'au, a Finnish-French couple and music-making duo who live in a snowbound Finnish cabin. "How should I be/ When I feel empty?" goes the repeated, slow refrain of "How," from the group's first, self-titled album (Young God Records), and most of the songs have that irresolute, paralyzed cast of mind, with L'au's careful, pretty guitar playing and Mi's quiet, vibratoless singing. It doesn't suggest much, but it creates its own world, and serves as a decent antidote for information overload....
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Mi and L'au Akron/Family & Angels of Light | Review
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The Phoenix Swarthmore College | Joe Kille Word in Your Belly bafflingly beautiful November 10, 2005 Mi and L'au Akron/Family & Angels of Light By far the best track on Mi and L'au's self-titled debut is called "A Word In Your Belly." Throughout the song L'au sings to a lush orchestral background and single repeating xylophone strike. Thing is, the refrain is not the title of the song but instead "there's a world in your belly." What does it mean? I don't know. I mean, I have an idea, but nothing too certain. I'll get back to you. Point is, it;s beautiful, not to mention a little confusing. The whole album is like that. Mi and L'au recorded and co-produced the majority of each track in a cabin in Finland. The album's production is intimate, acoustic, and simple. The mystery of the music though, speaks to a very specific yet undefined visual. L'au's work in film soundtracks before this album assuredly contributed to this. The whole album, in fact, feels like a soundtrack. The lyrics only ever hint at protagonist and situation. That doesn't mean that the music is un-enjoyable: quite the contrary. It leaves you searching for something else,......
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Mi and L'au | Review
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drownedinsound.com | Mike DiverThe sparseness of these songs can not be stressed strongly enoughMi and L'au's press release-documented isolation is absolutely apparent on their self-titled debut album the pair's shared Finnish cabin was the home of much of the recording, with overdubs added later in New York. The sparseness of these songs can not be stressed strongly enough: those moved by the warm folk of L'au's friend Devendra Banhart may find the majority of these songs almost too clinical in their execution, the not-always-perfect voices and creaky guitars too simple in sound to achieve any longevity. Let me explain, somewhat: a footprint in virgin snow is a thing of substantial beauty, crisp and perfect, untainted by anything but the chilled air above it. Likewise, the first steps onto a freshly revealed beach at low tide are to be cherished, to be turned back to and photographed for preservation. Why? Because such impressions, however wonderful, are but temporary, and one feels that love for Mi and L¹au is similar in its fleetingness. A sole listen reveals every nuance it has to offer, but its beauty needn't lessen with time as digital technology ensures its perfect preservation. Come back and listen......