Philadelphia Weekly

MUSIC

On The Record

Album reviews in 30 seconds or less.

By Bill Chenevert

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jan. 18, 2011

Space Is Only Noise

(Wordandsound/Circus)

Sounds Like: A debut to get excited about for low-key electronic music fans—trippy, sampled and ambient grooves that are slow-building, infectious and refreshing.

Free Association: A Frenchman in New York with a hyperdub ear and classicist’s grace.

For Fans Of: Brian Eno, Air, Avey Tare.

Young Prisms

Friends For Now

(Kanine)

Sounds Like: Reverb-drenched joyous noise from San Fran’s Mission District, five art school kids’ debut of psychedelic, angst-ridden new age punk music that shreds.

Free Association: Yeah, this’ll tide you and your bohemian lifestyle over for five months.

For Fans Of: Sonic Youth x Reading Rainbow, Wavves, tripping.

The Civil Wars

Barton Hollow

(Sensibility Music)

Sounds Like: The full-length debut of duets from Joy Williams (Nashville via Cali) and John Paul White (all Alabama), striking a lovely balance between country and folk.

Free Association: Lots of potential for this to feel gospel, but it’s just wispy acoustic bliss.

For Fans Of: Johnny & June x Lady Antebellum, that movie Once.

Destroyer