AKRON/FAMILY - Love Is Simple 2xLP

Label: Young God

Akron/Family aren't scared to transcend genres - pigeonhole if you dare - nor do they think twice about gushing sappily. They set out their stall from the refrain of the first track of the album, encouraging us to "go out and love, love, love…everyone."

From the tribal drums of Ed Is a Portal to the flamenco guitar of Lake Song, influences may be mined from across the world, but this is Akron/Family's effigy to the classic model of a band.

The psychedelic harmonies of The Beatles (Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead), bread and butter Zeppelin guitars (There's So Many Colors) and Neil Young folk rock (Phenomena) are all present and correct here, stitched together with marvellously off kilter interludes and intersections.

You can never second guess where Akron/Family are going to take you, but as long as you hold their hand, you won’t get lost. Love Is Simple is, though, a truly original, brilliantly daft, wholly enjoyable piece of work.