AcornCountry of origin:U.S. Type of music generally:Ambient, experimental (the band itself suggests "Ambient/Pop/North African/Folk/Art- Rock/Gregorian/Soundtrack music :)") Status:First album, sustenance (1998) See also:Acorn's MySpace page Comparisons:The Fixx or Saga, or a darker Duran Duran, Nine Inch Nails-like noise, King Crimson. (jzitt@humansystems.com) Covers/own material:own General comments:See album comments, below. Recommended first album:sustenance Recordings:sustenance (1998) sustenanceRelease info:1998—ACORN Availability:Unknown Ecto priority:Recommended for fans of experimental music Group members:Andrew P. Crane—vocals, keyboards, tape effects, percussion Guest artists:Kostya Gavrilov—keyboards, drum programming, bass sample, programming Produced by:Andrew P. Crane, with, variously: Kostya Gavrilov, Judson Leach, Brett Smith, Nic Greene, Bill Sanders, Steven Brinegar, Biff Sanders Comments:At first reminiscent of the better '80s synthrock, such as The Fixx or Saga, or a darker Duran Duran, Acorn's music quickly expands beyond that genre. Their songs incorporate a panpoly of rhythms and effects, the wonderfully bizarre vocal interjections of Anna Homler, and lyrics that, rather than synching exactly with the rhythms of the instruments, drape across them like a cat atop a bookcase. In songs such as "Temperate" and the beautiful "Speak in Other Tongues", singer and primary songwriter Andrew P. Crane stretches out into a melodic chanting reminiscent of Dead Can Dance's Brendan Perry. While his ambition sometimes exceeds his strengths, his ear-opening sense of adventure makes these tracks a rewarding listen. Other tracks, such as "No Holds Barred", jump cut from Nine Inch Nails-like noise bursts to King Crimson-like rhythms to drifting vocals with a nervous excitement, while "4OB" overlays jazz-inflected keyboard lines, dub bass, and Crane's meandering melody with haunting flute and vocals by Emily Hay (of the unjustly obscure Motor Totemist Guild). (jzitt@humansystems.com) Thanks to Joe Zitt for work on this entry.
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