Alcoholic Faith Mission Ask Me This

Despite the name, Alcoholic Faith Mission are not a group of drunken missionaries who play music on the side. Oh no, these Danes play woozy, hazy dream pop that's so delicate and fragile that the very sound of themselves could destroy every song they've written. They are tuneful, beautiful, and intimate and they are the very sound of lovelorn sleep. In fact, AFM songs sweep in and out of consciousness like a dose of Ambien induced sleep and their album; Ask Me This is like something out of a never ending dream.

Ask Me This is a touching, gorgeous record that floats gently by in an almost ghost-like fashion. Its songs sound as if they are being whispered into your ear and when they're over your heart and your ears can't help but yearn for more. AFM have done an amazing job at putting together songs that reach into your soul and never let it go. By using a sparse and atmospheric blend of acoustic instrumentation and pop music, they create a space in which your mind may roam. Strings, multi-part harmonies, accordions, and everything in between can be found here; it’s all over the place in all the best ways. The songs are potentially depressing to the point where they may or may not actually be life affirming but darn it if they don’t sound wispy and wonderful. AFM come off as being the best combination of being happy and sad at the same time and truth be told, it doesn't matter what they are, because in the end they're pretty amazing.

Ask Me This is such a well crafted piece of ethereal orchestrated pop that it's hard to believe that a mission sized band isn't making it happen. Fragile, quiet, and sounding sad, Ask Me This is the sort of record that you want to give a hug to and hope for one back. Ask Me This capitalizes on its minimal approach to create the kind of atmosphere that makes this cuddly feeling happen. Wafting in and out like a breeze, the songs scattered throughout this record hint at their beauty with small impressions of sound. AFM do a wonderful job of weaving these tapestries of sound into something that's stunning and comes quite highly recommended. Not bad for a bunch of drunk missionaries then.