Akron/Family & Angels Of Light: Review + MP3s

I have re-posted this review with the addition of two *limited downloads*. One is from this album and the other from Akron/Family's debut.
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Akron/Family & Angels of Light
[Young God Records - 2005]
*Sixeyes Score: 8.7 out of 10
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Akron/Family are the sleeper band of 2005, no question. A group of young men who released a stunning S/T full length debut earlier this year, who so impressed their producer and label head, Michael Gira, that he has been using them as his band in studio and on the road. THE sleeper band of the year and it's time to wake up. 2006 should rightly be the year that AF begin to buzz in the ears of all, generate the same online excitement as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Arctic Monkeys, and sell out shows like Arcade Fire. I haven't had the good fortune to see the band live as of yet, but everything I read on this band says they are amazing, from live reviews to album reviews, they've all mentioned their staggering live show. From the most recent release featuring the band, Akron/Family & Angels of Light, there is the song, "Raising The Sparks", and this is what I imagine AF will sound like live.

Akron/Family with Michael Gira[center]

From the Allman Brothers twin guitar six-string harmonies at song's start to the barn burning, foot stomping, tent revival snake charming crescendo that the song reaches, to the singing, shouting, and screaming energy of the band--this band is it's own power supply. Raising the sparks? Hell, they're raising the temperature, they're melting ice caps. Again, without having seen them live I will venture a guess and say this was their attempt to get their live energy on tape. This band is also capable of shifting gears like a trucker in the foothills of the Rockies. In "Dylan Pt. 2" they lull you with a wash of vocal harmonies and then wallop you with a guitar freak out straight off of The Beatles 'White Album'. The second half of this split release is Michael Gira backed by AF and Gira is no fool, his songs here are given a warm, woody sheen by a band that loves Alan Lomax field recordings and Big Pink era The Band as much as Sonic Youth and Radiohead. A strong album that will draw you further into Gira's extensive back catalog (Swans, Michael Gira, Body Lovers, Angels of Light) and send you running for Akron Family's debut.

from Akron/Family & Angels of Light...
+ raising the sparks [mp3]
+ dylan pt 2 [mp3]
From A/K's debut...
+ i'll be on the water

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*Download Akron/Family & Angels of Light and Akron/Family's S/T debut at eMusic* - look into eMusic's Free Trial of 50 MP3 Downloads.

*Sixeyes review of Akron/Family debut
Akron/Family homepage
young god records
Akron/Family myspace