Akron/Family
http://www.akronfamily.com

styles: freakfolk, electro-glitch folk, strum n' wail
others: Michael Gira, Grandaddy, the Czars, Devendra Banhart

The Meek Warrior
Young God, 2006
rating: 3/5
reviewer: p funk

With last year's self-titled debut, Akron/Family established themselves as the best emo-band-for-big-kids around. Sure, there was plenty of sundrop psychedelia tangled up in their songs, and their live shows quickly transformed into wild and wooly campfire theatre, with band members starting drum circles in the middle of the audience and interjecting with unexpectedly skronky sax outbursts. But if you want to talk about what animated their recorded material, you had to turn to some of the most naked, earnest lyrics this side of …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead's Source Tags and Codes. The Family stuck their necks out with lines like "Thinking of you/ There's lightning bolts in my chest," and they actually came away largely unscathed, thanks to complex, even messy sonics that betrayed their fundamental maturity. Bald emoting burns so much cleaner when it's accompanied by spectral electronic manipulation that would make Brian Deck grin or uncanny guitar riffs that suggest a less calculating and pretentious Joan of Arc.

A year later, the boys are feeding us far less sentimental remarks: "A true spaceship has no destination/ Only direction," they sing in "The Rider." And while this purposiveness-without-a-purpose argument may not be as strong an edict against art-with-a-message as the band probably hopes – they are, after all, using the song to make a point – but it accurately describes the space that Meek Warrior imagines. This is an astral plane for free play of the imagination, a wide-open zone in which you can connect The Boredoms' tidal surge, cheerleading chants, afrobeat, and free jazz (which happens in "Blessing Force) or simply drift away on a stream of earthy hand percussion and recycled flowerchild spew (see "Gone Beyond"). It's also a place where you can't speak a word about relationships, unless you're asking the Divine to help you reflect some vaguely-defined brand of cosmic love.

Cacophonous, absurd, and fragmented, Meek Warrior is an admirable step towards a hedonistic utopia where all religions, philosophies, and musical genres explode into one overpowering, kaleidoscopic sensory experience, but in the end it's just a step. Each track feels more like a costume change than a true exploration of new waters, as the group's newfound love of blustery free-for-all psych ultimately has more to do with the members' broad record collections than their ability to function as versatile musicians.

1. Blessing Force
2. Gone Beyond
3. Meek Warrior
4. No Space in This Realm
5. The Lightning Bolt of Compassion
6. The Rider (Dolphin Song)
7. Love and Space

Akron/Family & Angels of Light (with The Angels of Light)
Young God, 2005
rating: 4/5
reviewer: jspicer


More Akron/Family and Angels of Light! Christmas has indeed come early. And it comes with a Christmas bonus, as this split LP from the Brooklyn noisemakers and their fearless mentor may in fact be the strongest material both bands have released this year.

Apparently the boys in Akron/Family aren't afraid to twist their brand of free-folk into a gnarled mess of sonic explosions and sweet sound. "Moment" begins as a garbled collage of indiscernible noise, before peaking with a raucous sing-along, and before repeating the process. It's a shiny, happy moment for a band that delves deep into the dark psyche of music, a rare adventure through color-by numbers pop; but Akron/Family stridently refuses to stay inside the lines. "Future Myth" continues the this trend through the rose-colored lens of the '80s. The production is crisp, the melody is bouncy, and the tune's underbelly is what's left of pop's version of new wave. The musical time warp finishes its fantastical voyage through the wayback machine with the '70s classic rock homage "Raising the Sparks."

Michael Gira prefers to take a slower, more cautious approach during the second half of the split. Using Akron/Family as his backup band, Gira begins by staying in the '70s vibe, covering Bob Dylan's "I Pity the Poor Immigrant." The song is an alt-country sing-along. Build a campfire, grab a guitar, and belt your heart out. Elsewhere, "One for Hope" is another in a long line of hum-able tunes for Gira. The player piano and slide guitar by Akron/Family provide the ultimate contrast to their noisier, younger, and brasher side of the album. Gira is able to coax a different sound out of Akron/Family without forcing them to abandon what they do best.

More than just an introduction to the soundworlds of Angels of Light and Akron/Family, this split album breaks new ground for Akron/Family while continuing to affirm Michael Gira as a reputable singer/songwriter. Gira's influence on Akron/Family is heard throughout each track. He has the boys focused, yet loose. Conversely, Akron/Family seems to bring out the kid in Gira, allowing him to relax. This dual effort is just the beginning of a symbiotic relationship built on musical exploration and appreciation. Hopefully it'll push both bands to bigger and better things.

1. Awake
2. Moment
3. We All Will
4. Future Myth
5. Dylan Pt. 2
6. Oceanside
7. Raising the Sparks
8. I Pity the Poor Immigrant
9. The Provider
10. One for Hope
11. Mother/Father
12. Come for My Woman