Metallic Falcons

Looking at the contributors to this album, which includes Antony, Jana Hunter and Devendra Banhart, you’d be inclined to include this duo with the freak-folk tag. Well, not only is that wrong, but one would even be hard-pressed to include this music into any genre. They call it "soft metal,” but even that doesn’t grasp the layers of this music. The fact Sierra Casady of CocoRosie is one half may seem like an indicator, as beyond the muted walls of guitar lies her haunting voice. Actually, the best indicator of what to expect from Metallic Falcons comes from "Nighttime and Morning,” where Antony’s wail emits from some unknown distance, providing an elegiac intro to a later burbling of distorted guitars and cooing from Casady. It is a beguiling song and its combination of left-field atmospherics and crunchy guitar makes it seem more like arty post-rock than post-art rock. Although decidedly downbeat, this is still music that demands attention. Every strike of the guitar and Casady’s sombre delivery combine for an experience unlike any floating around today. Beautiful, haunting and nerve-wracking are all indicators, but, really, you have to listen for yourself.