A prodigious, swooning Brooklyn brood of measured, revered, multi-instrumentalists, Akron/Family's muse is infused in elegant, orphic, oddball folk and thrilling, meticulous, psyche-warped rock.
Their radiating 2005 eponymous debut was heralded one of the year's finest - and most enduring - releases: the Brooklyn four-piece carve a gnarled, enchanting art that traverses out-folk, guitar meditations, drone passages and sing-a-long swamp rawk.
Signed to the distinguished Young God imprint, (Devendra Banhart, Mi and L'au) - their label boss is feted Swans' commander Michael Gira - a guru with whom Akron/Family also shared an ace release last year, playing alongside his Angels of Light.
Amidst Charalimbides, Radiohead and Six Organs of Admittance, Akron/Family glide and tussle: they entwine eastern canticles and dense finger picking and electronic trickery like no other.
"Here's the top ten albums that have made a so-called difference on this last epic journey round the world," they tell us. Woah!
1: Neil Young - After the Goldrush / On the Beach / Harvest
"Simple and classic. Just happened to be what we wanted to listen to most of the time."
2: Earth - Hex
"A perfect discovery and accompaniment to travels through Earth and through America (especially the desert)."
3: Wooden Wand - Harem Of The Sundrum And The Witness Figg
"A great collection of songs from, I do believe, one of the best songwriters around."
4: Terry Riley - Descending Moonshine Dervishes
"Cascading crystalline sound structures set the mood for a long drive."
5. John Coltrane - The John Coltrane Quartet Plays
"There's so many good Coltrane discs we listen to but this one finds the classic quartet at its peak and has moments of epic heavy metal."
6: Jay Z - Black Album and Unplugged.
"We use this to get hype and to practice our flow."
7: Smog - A River Ain't Too Much to Love
"A great night-time album. Wonderful singing and songwriting - and great Thor drumming."
8: Bonnie Prince Billy - Master and Everyone
"This one's been a favourite for a while and receives many plays."
9: Grateful Dead - Aoxomoxoa
"Amazing mixing. Incredible lyrics. Go and listen to 'St. Stephen' with fresh ears: truly wonderful music!"
10: Need New Body - U.F.O
"Find your heart, 'cause we want you heart..."