Akron/Family are set to release their next album S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT on February 8th, and they’ll release 500 copies on cassette tape. Luckily, when you buy the cassette, you’ll also get a link to download the album in MP3 format. I still don’t understand this new ironic cassette tape trend that’s happening, but I am impressed by the single Akron/Family has released from the new album. Equally impressive is the accompanying video. Both are provided below for your enjoyment.
Back from a long Memorial Day weekend in Cincinnati and its fitting to talk about an album with Old Glory on the cover. I spent the long flight to Ohio listening to Akron/Family’s latest release Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free. Some indie bands classify themselves as “Experimental.” Usually that classification is synonymous with “Crap.” Akron/Family experiments with arrangements, instrumentation and tempo changes, but without completely abandoning fans with more mainstream sensibilities. And they certainly are not crappy.
Jazz and funk influences are infused in the album’s opening track, “Everyone Is Guilty,” with various tempo changes and vocal styles that range from shout-singing over crazy percussion and bass lines to more subtle harmonizing over orchestral strings. Trying to keep up as a listener can be exhausting and if you try to dance to this song, you’ll end up looking like Patrick Dempsey in Can’t Buy Me Love doing some sort of African tribe dance ritual.
The next song, “River,” is an accessible, feel good Island song that will appeal to fans of Vampire Weekend.‚ “Creature” follows up with a Beck-like hip-hop vibe and experimental percussion before the acoustic song, “The Alps and Their Orange Evergeen,” brings the album back to Earth.‚ And that’s the start of what’s in store with Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free.
Sometimes I hear a blend of Blitzen Trapper and The Dodos and at other times, I hear things I’ve never heard before. That’s why I continued to be drawn to the album. Akron/Family will launch into the stratosphere and take some risks. Some songs sink in after several listens while others may never digest. Other tracks you’ll fall in love with. Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free will challenge you. It’ll keep you on your toes. If you spend enough time with it, you’ll be rewarded as the album continues to reveal itself in new ways.
Akron/Family are releasing their new album, Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free, tomorrow via Dead Oceans. According to the press release, this might not be the Akron/Family you’ve come to know:
Following a year of making things bigger and wilder live, the band returns to something simpler on Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free. With limited outside assistance, this trio has made a focused, powerful and unified work. Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free maintains the communal spirit of the big band that won audiences over throughout the world, but it showcases Akron/Family at its core – three musicians, equals, creating music from deep within. Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free is something undeniably special and immensely powerful. Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free is the new psychedelic rock.
