Angels Of Light - Angels Of Light Sing Other People
by Andrew Carver
published: 5 / 6 / 2005
Label:
Young God Records
Format: CD
intro
Disturbing new record from former Swans frontman Michael Gira's follow-up act Angels of Light, which is a further "finely formed celebration and condemnation of humanity’s dark interior "
Michael Gira is well on his way to having one of the strongest second acts in independent music. Following his notorious Swans, his adaptation of that band’s flirtations with ominous delicacy have borne full fruit in his albums as the Angels of Light. 'Sing Other People' is a particularly strong effort, with Gira’s resonant baritone receiving heavy duty support from members of the Akron/Family, who sound much more focused here than on their debut . They excel on tracks like the all-too brief 'Dawn', with sinewy guitar ably juxtaposed with glockenspiel and 'To Live Through Someone' where Casio perks up some strummed acoustic guitar. Of course, this is a Gira project, and despite the pretty, if sometimes melancholy music, the lyrics paint a picture of an unsettling environment occupied by individuals warped in body mind and spirit. A disturbed and damaged child lurks in 'The Kid Is Already Breaking'; a dysfunctional celebrity transforms into an apocalyptic destroyer in 'Michael’s White Hands'; vengeful family members pledge to “kill that man” on 'My Sister Said'; wrathful visitors descend from the hills in 'On The Mountain'. Even the seemingly stable occupant of 'Dawn' seems somehow twisted by his forbearance and dedication to his children – changed from a thinking man to someone who can only think of carrying on. (Of course, in Gira’s lyrics it is sometimes hard to tell who he’s addressing or where he stands in the song, so listeners’ interpretations may vary – a fact ably indicated by the murky portraits in the CD booklet.) An intriguing, finely formed celebration and condemnation of humanity’s dark interior by one of independent music’s most capable artisans.
Track Listing:-
1 Lena's Song2 The Kid Is Already Breaking
3 My Friend Thor
4 On The Mountain
5 Destroyer
6 Dawn
7 My Sister Said
8 Michael's White Hands
9 To Live Through Someone
10 Simon Is Stronger Than Us
11 Purple Creek
12 Jackie's Spine
Label Links:-
http://younggodrecords.com/https://www.youtube.com/user/YoungGodTube
interviews |
Interview (2007) |
Ex-Swans front-man and owner of Young God records Michael Gira's latest musical project Angels of Light has just released its fifth album 'We Are Him'. Jamie Rowland chats to him about it, the potentially bleak future of Young God and his music |
live reviews |
Astoria 2, London, 1/11/2007 |
At the Astoria 2 in London, Sarah Maybank watches experimental art trio Animal Collective play a dark relationship conflict-inducing, but hit-and-miss set |
reviews |
We are Him (2007) |
Latest album from Michael Gira's Angels of Light which despite replacing the industrialism of his first, most famous band the Swans with a combination of folk, country and hillbilly music remains doom-laden and disturbing |
Everything Is Good Here / Please Come Home (2003) |
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