Grace and Lies

family band is a collaboration between visual-artist-turned-singer kim krans and her husband, onetime heavy-metal guitarist jonny ollsin (children, s.t.r.e.e.t.s.). the merging of the couple's sensibilities makes for music that's simultaneously elegant and visceral. their songs are as stark as bare trees in winter, krans' baleful alto swooping mournfully over ollsin's glimmering guitar like a black crow against a grey sky. as its title implies 'grace and lies' is equal parts light and shadow, evoking the mystery and terror of early cat power, the ghostly aura of warpaint, with whom family band toured in 2011, and the hushed longing of prime-era cowboy junkies. though they explored similar territory - both sonically and lyrically - on their self-released debut, miller path, on grace their canvas is wider - the greys lusher, the blacks deeper. assisted by bass and lapsteel player scott hirsch (hiss golden messenger), the couple has made a record that boldly confronts life's darker questions.