Turned Word

Turned Word #25: AMPS FOR CHRIST – ‘Circuits’ 2LP $18
Circuits was originally released in 1999 on the Vermiform label. It was well received, even charting on CMJ. Comprised of stellar originals, Scottish, English and North American folk songs and Child ballads, biblical lore, and choice pop folk cover tunes, Circuits is singular in its approach. Heavily referencing Steeleye Span and Pentangle’s moves in working with songs of the British Isles, as well as Jean Ritchie and North American Appalachian songlines in general, as well as DIY noisenik modalities, AFC uniquely adds to the history of these song lines. This reissue puts Circuits on vinyl for the first time as a deluxe double LP with a gatefold cover and a full bonus side of unreleased material . Circuits includes AFC collaborator Tara Tavi (ex-Blue Silk Sutures, Bastard Noise, Savage Republic, currently of Auto Da Fe) who plays yangqin (Chinese hammer dulcimer) and sings. Former Man Is The Bastard drummer Joel Connell plays tablas and percussion. Remastered for vinyl by Tim Stollenwerk (Mississippi Records, Sublime Frequencies, Fat Possum). Co-released by Turned Word Records. The four song bonus side begins with “Empire”, a song recorded for a compilation that was supposed to be released by L.A. venue, The Smell. Barnes and Tavi are joined by then AFC member Erika Anderson (EMA, Gowns).The comp never saw the light of day, but Empire now has. “Yamasuka” adds fellow former MITB member, Aaron Kenyon on bass to this release and rounding off the bonus side are folk standards Knight On The Road and Bonny Greenwoodside. The latter recorded live at the Claremont Forum in 2001. Amps For Christ use unique instrumentation in an eclectic approach to play”folkcore”, coined & defined by founder Henry Barnes. Mr. Barnes modifies Hammond organs to a fixed scale that defines AFC’s sound. He builds his own electric bouzoukis, sitars, guitars, violins, metronomes, oscillators and noise machines. Prior to AFC, Mr. Barnes was a founder of Man Is The Bastard and Bastard Noise. AFC has at least 15 releases in their prolific catalog on labels such as Kill Rock Stars, Shrimper, Vermiform, RRR and Woodsist.

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