Hearing Kim Krans sing reminds me of the first time I put on a Pretenders record. I put down the needle, halfway interested in the greatest hits collection I found in a bargain bin. I was about to leave the room when I heard Chrissie Hynde’s voice and immediately came back in and sat on the bed and played the first song over and over for the next hour. It was one of the moments where I found a record that I didn’t just like- I loved it. That feeling doesn’t happen that often.

When I put on Family Band’s first full length, Miller Path, I was only really half-listening. I was in the kitchen when I heard the drums drifting in, and then the sparse guitars, but my ears perked up instantly when I first heard Krans’ world-weary voice. Once again, love at first listen. And it didn’t stop there. The more I paid attention, the more I was in awe of Jonny Ollsin’s perfect execution of sounds- the guitars are meticulous and have a classical sensibility about them. This record is perhaps one of the strongest arguments I’ve ever heard for buying a pair of high quality headphones- you’ll find yourself on the floor, eyes closed, transported to a dark folk landscape of sound.

It may be hard to believe that Family Band only have one EP to their name (Miller Path will release in March). There’s a dynamic at work here that veteran bands can only dream of. These songs feel like they were composed outside of city noise or cramped professional studios-they seem to be constructed in someplace quiet and beautiful. There’s a reverent nod to silence as much is there is to the unique textures and layers that make up these nine songs. In short- its not the typical full length debut. Expect the eerie beauty and heavy, desolate folk of Family Band to warm up to ears later this year.

Fantasy

Hatred