Angels of Light
| (The) Angels of Light | |
|---|---|
 Angels of Light live in Warsaw, 2005. |
|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Alternative rock , psychedelic folk , folk rock |
| founding | 1998 |
| resolution | 2009 |
| Founding members | |
Guitar, vocals |
Michael Gira |
Angels of Light , sometimes called The Angels of Light , were an American rock band from New York .
Founder and only permanent member was Michael Gira , former band leader of the influential noise rock band Swans, also from New York . After the Swans dissolved in 1997 and the short-lived project The Body Lovers / The Body Haters, Gira brought the Angels of Light to life. Gira originally wanted to name the band "The Pleasure Seekers". This idea was put on hold when it turned out that there was already a band with that name in the 1960s. The first two live performances were simply announced as "Michael Gira with guests". All Angels of Light albums are published on Gira's own label Young God Records .
Unlike the often dark noise rock sounds of the Swans, the focus of Gira's new band was on melodic compositions with influences from folk , psychedelic and progressive rock .
Angels of Light collaborated with musicians and bands such as Dana Schechter from Bee And Flower, Kid Kongo Powers from The Cramps , Julia Kent , Larry Mullins aka Toby Dammit, Thor Harris from the Swans and Shearwater and the indie band Akron / Family from Brooklyn . The Freakfolk musician Devendra Banhart , who was also initially published by Young God Records, also played with the Angels of Light.
In 2009, Gira dissolved the Angels of Light after deciding to bring the Swans back to life. Many of the songs on the comeback album My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky (2010) were originally intended as Angels of Light songs.
Discography
- New Mother (Young God Records, 1999)
- Praise Your Name (Young God Records, 1999) - 7 "single
- How I Loved You (Young God Records, 2001)
- We Were Alive! (Young God Records, 2002)
- Everything Is Good Here / Please Come Home (Young God Records, 2003)
- Sing "Other People" (Young God Records, 2005)
- Akron / Family & Angels of Light (Young God Records, 2005) - Split album with Akron / Family.
- We Are Him (Young God Records, 2007)