Akron/Family: Love Is Simple

Akron/Family’s second cd, Love Is Simple begins with a gentle acoustic guitar piece with the following lyric:

Every precious human being
Has been a precious parent to you.

What can be done,
What can we do,
What can be done,
What can we do, do
Do, do, do?

Go out and love, love, love, everyone.

Of course, this follows the Tibetan Buddhist teaching that over the long stretches of cosmic time, all beings have been – among other things – parents to us. So, due to their previous beneficence, we should love and honor all beings.

This being an Akron/Family cd, this little ditty is followed by the epic “Ed Is A Portal.” The sweetly lilting following tune, “Don’t Be Afraid, You’re Already Dead” has as it’s first verse, “Don’t be afraid, it’s only love./Love is simple.” If only! But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a catchy little ditty.

Overall, compared to their first outing, Meek Warrior there’s less the Sun Ra free-jazz anarchy, and more acid-folk with some early Mothers Of Invention sounding instrumental passages. A bit of Freak Out with more love and no cynicism. “There’s So Many Colors” is perhaps this cd’s standout in this regard, moving through more changes than a Bollywood song!

“Phenomena” reminds us that “Things are not what they seem to be./Nor are they otherwise./Some think rice is white/Some think it it brown.” A kind of explication of the empty nature of all phenomena, with a hint of humor.

Here’s another cd bought at Soundscapes in Toronto. And no, I am NOT in their employ! This one comes with the added bonus treat of a dvd of the band in performance. By the time I got through hearing this second cd from this band, they had earned a place high on my list of favorite bands. I hope someday to be able to see them, but I’m not sure what it might take to bring them to Tucson (though Japan’s Ghosts were here this year!).