A Hawk and a Hacksaw

Connecting the two enchanted bodies of water that encapsulate The Way the Wind Blows—one set in Galisteo, New Mexico, the other in France—the cross-cultural, cross-generational folk tales of A Hawk and a Hacksaw re-contextualize the traditional and classical into the modern age. Led by nomadic aural archaeologist and former Neutral Milk Hotel and Bablicon drummer Jeremy Barnes, who recorded the group's self-titled debut in France and follow-up Darkness at Noon in Prague, AHAAH combine gypsy melodies and Appalachian folk with Roma and Turkish music through an array of odd instrumentation. The Way the Wind Blows, which features violinist Heather Trost's "Waltz for Strings and Tuba" and "Oporto," was recorded partially in Zece Prajini, Romania, with the Balkan folk group Fanfare Ciocarlia whose brass additions are impeccable. Zach Condon, of the like-minded band Beirut, also contributed some trumpet work well. Live, the duo (Barnes and Trost) are a sight to behold, and there's no telling when the wind will blow this circus back into town.