As though it weren’t enough for Akron/Family to stun us with a self-titled debut that brought us on an emotionally complex journey, through a tunnel of harmonic contentment, to the gates of Paradise and then through the door, the young lads in A/F have done it again, this time with Young God label honcho Michael Gira splitting the bill with ‘em.

A/F puts on its collective progressive rock face, coming across like a stomping and more beautiful version of Yes at its most pop-minded and as though it had been influenced by the Flaming Lips rather than the other way around. Check out the stomping, acid-laced “Moment” or the epic “Future Myth,” which crosses Jon Anderson and Co.’s ‘80s material with beautifully constructed harmonies and a vocal boogie that’s also reminiscent of A/F’s peers in the Down Home Southernaires.

The Angels Of Light section proves no less remarkable - in fact it may be more so for the diversity that the Family demonstrates while backing the former Swan, in particular on the Bob Dylan track “I Pity The Poor Immigrant” and the re-arranged Swans song “Mother/Father.” Gira’s rarely sounded as good as he does of late and with a new band to inspire him and to inspire, it’s a win-win situation for lovers of both acts. Easily the must-have and must-have release of this end of the year. – Jedd Beaudoin (2005, The Daily Copper)