Angels of Light was an American
neofolk
Neofolk, also known as apocalyptic folk, is a form of experimental music blending elements of folk and industrial music, which emerged in punk rock circles in the 1980s. Neofolk may either be solely acoustic or combine acoustic folk instrume ...
band that was formed circa 1998 by singer-songwriter and musician
Michael Gira after he disbanded
Swans, the group he had founded in 1982. The band has marked a distinctly different style for Gira since he left Swans, most noticeably being musically more melodic and less brutal than his previous efforts and with emphasis on acoustic instruments and
folk and
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
influences.
Before the band was formed, Gira intended to call his post-Swans acoustic/song-based project The Pleasure Seekers. This name was discarded because there had been a
group with the same name in the 1960s. The first two live performances of what would become the Angels of Light (the
Tonic/
Bowery Ballroom
The Bowery Ballroom is a New York City live music venue located at 6 Delancey Street in Manhattan's Bowery neighborhood.
The venue has enjoyed a fabled reputation among musicians as well as audiences. In 2013, industry insiders polled by ''Roll ...
benefit shows) were billed as "Michael Gira with guests".
The revolving lineup up Angels of Light included a wide range of musicians from
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
and elsewhere, including
Dana Schechter
Bee and Flower is a band founded in New York City in 1999 by singer-songwriter, bassist, animator, illustrator, composer and producer Dana Schechter. Schechter formed the band while also a member of Michael Gira's band Angels of Light.
Bee and ...
of
Bee and Flower,
Kid Congo Powers of
The Cramps,
Larry Mullins (a.k.a. Toby Dammit), Cassis Birgit Staudt of b-blush,
Bliss Blood of The Moonlighters,
Thor Harris of
Shearwater,
Swans guitarist
Kristof Hahn,
Phil Puleo of
Cop Shoot Cop, and freak-folk musician
Devendra Banhart. On ''
The Angels of Light Sing 'Other People''' and ''
We Are Him'', Gira was backed by
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
band
Akron/Family. Hahn, Harris and Puleo went on to join Gira in the new Swans lineup assembled in 2010. Shortly thereafter Swans released their first post-reunion LP ''
My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky''.
All Angels of Light albums were released on Michael Gira's label
Young God Records.
Discography
Studio albums
* ''
New Mother'' (1999)
* ''
How I Loved You'' (2001)
* ''
Everything Is Good Here/Please Come Home'' (2003)
* ''
The Angels of Light Sing 'Other People''' (2005)
* ''
Akron/Family & Angels of Light'' (2005) – split album with
Akron/Family.
* ''
We Are Him'' (2007)
Live albums
* ''
We Were Alive!'' (2002)
Singles
* "Praise Your Name" (1999)
References
External links
Young God Records official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Angels of Light
Musical groups established in 1998
Musical groups from New York City
Swans (band)
Musical groups disestablished in 2009
American alternative country groups
American folk musical groups
Young God Records artists
1998 establishments in New York City
Neofolk music groups