Elf Power

Elf Power's aptitude for creating albums that speak for themselves first and the band second make each release sound like a distinct era in the Elves' ever-evolving course. The gypsy folk of Back to the Web finds Andrew Rieger creating invitingly warm environments with twelve-string acoustic guitar. He orchestrates violin, cello and accordion to great effect and also employs calming, Tibetan-style throatsinging; backward loops and tribal drumming are among the surprises discovered on subsequent listens. "An Old Familiar Scene" pairs detached singing with a choir of guitars, and "23rd Dream" is touched by mandolin and melancholy. But to like the Elves is to appreciate some constants: These Elephant 6 collectivists have a need to match psych-pop folk melodies with intriguing lyrics and complex instrumentation. (This show was moved from the Hi-Pointe.)