Like the previous record, most probably bought in Reading, possibly HMV, in 2008
One day, my friend Jenni from the United States of America played a YouTube video of a song called 'Love & Space' by Akron/Family. I cannot find the video she showed me, which I recall featured the band walking down New York City streets, singing. Here's different video of the same song. It felt like it was going to be one of those songs that would lead me in a new music-listening direction. I expected I would like all of this new band’s music, and the music of other bands by association.
It didn’t quite work out that way. Within a year I would have picked up three Akron/Family records (this and Angels of Light on CD and Akron/Family on vinyl), but I’d not had it click with me in the way I had expected. Perhaps it was because I’d managed to avoid the album that featured the song that got me into them in the first place - and I still haven’t heard it to this day (when am I going to listen to it? When?).
But then one day, perhaps the day I bought this album, I got word from Jenni, who was by now back in the United States. Akron/Family were coming to England. They were to play the Lexington in Kilburn and the End of the Road festival. I should go to the Lexington, I should introduce myself to them, and I should ask for a guest pass for the festival.
This is a typical move by Jenni. She presents you with an interesting idea and says do it, even it might be out of your character to do that thing. Maybe ask yourself, is it so out character? And why should it be? With Jenni’s encouragement I have had wonderful times that I could’ve easily dismissed. I can't remember a single occasion where following Jenni's advice led to something bad happening (or worse, nothing happening at all).
So I went. I bought a ticket to their London gig, and I did introduce myself to them. And Dana, the drummer, did indeed invite me to take the guest pass. It would go to waste otherwise. Any friend of Jenni’s is a friend of theirs.
I’d never been to a festival on my own before, but I would recommend it to anyone. I saw all the bands I wanted to see; I got up when I wanted; I ate when I wanted; I went exploring; I even ran into about half a dozen friends and whiled a few hours away with them. I met one of the organisers’ mothers.
Akron/Family’s music is ideal for this kind of thing. All optimism and happiness and joy. Sometimes a bit too positive for its own good. There are moments in ‘Ed Is A Portal’ that are so uncomfortable that they make me squirm. Where’s the sadness that makes this degree of happiness bearable? But you don't have to listen too hard to hear it’s there on the album: threaded throughout ‘Lake Song/New Ceremonial Music For Moms’; rippling the surface of the millpond in the chorus of ‘Don’t Be Afraid, You’re Already Dead'. There's lovely subtle time signature change on its chorus, moving from 3/4 to 5/4 and back again.
As a thank you to Akron/Family for their generosity, I bought a pack of coffee beans and tossed it to them onto the stage. I believe Jenni’s new job in a Brooklyn coffee shop led to their meeting, so it felt apt. Months later I would run into one of the Akron/Family in a Manhattan coffee shop after I’d listened to a Do Make Say Think album whilst wandering about town. I had spoken to him before about how much I'd enjoyed listening to & Yet & Yet (2002) whilst approaching JFK from Heathrow. He in turn recommended listening to it whilst walking around Manhattan. Now I recommend it to you, if you can bear the joy it brings.If I'm ever there again, I might give Love Is Simple a try. See if that works.
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