reax music magazine :: music + culture » Reviews » Angels of Light - We Are Him

Michael Gira is a genius. Angels of Light is his creative vehicle for some of the most splendid music he’s made in his entire life. His new album, We Are Him, is the best anti-folk recording I’ve heard this year. The whole album bristles with Gira’s talent. With the good folks of Akron/Family backing him, Gira jumps into “Black River Song” with everything he’s got, churning out one of the most dynamic and compelling songs of his repertoire. In contrast, “Promise of Water” is a lilting folk ballad that builds into a howling chug. Similarly, “My Brother’s Man” is a song that commands the ear with high-pitched bursts of electric guitar. His voice is commanding and haunting, and by the time he declares, “I am the god of this fucking land!” I’m ready to agree with him. – Christian Crider