Akron/Family - Akron/family
by Andrew Carver
published: 4 / 6 / 2005

Label:
Young God Records
Format: CD
intro
Intriguing blend of folk music and oddity on first album from New York-based band Akron/Family, which should attracts fans of Grandaddy, Flaing Lips and Animal Collective alike
The New York-based band Akron/Family whips up an interesting blend of folk music, weirdness and aural freakishness on its self-titled debut. Opener 'Before and Again' sets the trend with an overall pastoral sound where computerized bleeps collide with an acoustic guitar and what sounds like rain dripping in a pan. Not surprising, when various members of the band are credited with “bric-a-brac”, “fruity computer twiddling” and “orchestral computer sentiments” – a.k.a. cellos in a can – in addition to the more traditional guitars, piano and melodica. The band’s strength lies in its genial contemplation of the final drawn-out day of a foreign vacation, the physical sensation of love and the longing caused by its unrequited form in songs like 'Italy'”, 'I’ll Be on the Water' (water and love are recurring themes in A/F songs) and 'Afford'. Do the band’s songs need the oceanic breaths, creaking telegraphs or violent rushes of digital scree that dot tracks like 'Part of Corey' or 'Suchness'? Probably not, but with its peculiar flourishes the band can at least hope to attract fans of groups like Grandaddy, Flaming Lips and fellow New Yorkers Animal Collective or Italian psychedelic band Jennifer Gentle to their interesting debut, while its solid musical core should grab folks fans.
Track Listing:-
1 Before And Again2 Suchness
3 Part Of Corey
4 Italy
5 I'll Be On The Water
6 Running, Returning
7 Afford
8 Interlude: Ak Ak Was The Boat They Sailed In On
9 Sorrow Boy
10 Shoes
11 Lumen
12 How Do I Know
13 Franny/You're Human
14 (untitled)
Label Links:-
http://younggodrecords.com/https://www.youtube.com/user/YoungGodTube
interviews |
Interview (2011) |
![]() |
Jamie Rowland speaks to Seth Olinsky from psychedelic folk act Akron/Family, about his group’s Japanese-influenced seventh album, ‘S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT’, and the video films that have been created to accompany each of the tracks on the new album. |
Interview (2009) |
Interview (2007) |
Interview (2006) |
live reviews |
ICA, London, 20/5/2009 |
![]() |
Despite having recently lost founder member Ryan Vanderhoof and now being reduced to a three piece, Sarah Johnson at the London ICA finds New York experimental folk act Akron/Family having lost none of their spontaneity, but also having an increased tightness |
Barrymore's, Ottawa, 26/9/2008 |
reviews |
S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT (2011) |
![]() |
Superb sample and loop-influenced fifth album from New York-based psychedelic folk act, Akron/Family |
Love is Simple (2007) |
Meek Warrior (2006) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - InterviewJack Frost - As Seen on TV
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
John McKay - Interview
Editorial - July 2025
Robert Forster - Interview
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
most viewed reviews
current edition
Little Simz - LotusHAIM - I Quit
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the Jumbo
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pulp - More
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Morcheeba - Escape The Chaos
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart