Spinning On Air Sunday evenings from 7 to 8 pm WNYC-FM 93.9 and wnyc.org September 18: Doveman Doveman is a NYC-based quintet that creates delicately wrought songs. They're also a free-wheeling, powerhouse rock band. And seemingly paradoxically, they can manage to be both in the course of a single song. All of Doveman’s pieces are composed by pianist and singer Thomas Bartlett, who writes about his wide-ranging musical interests in the “Audiofile” column on Salon.com. September 25: Akron/Family With the musical imagination and ability to encompass gentle four-part vocal harmonies, wild improvisation, rock 'n' roll power, and a spirit that's enlivening and enlightening, the young Brooklyn-based group Akron/Family has burst on the scene during the last year. Spinning On Air was an early champion of their refreshing music, and the group returns now to give in-studio the kind of extended performance that’s been thrilling audiences at their live shows. Since I interviewed Akron/Family on an earlier show, this one is basically a full hour of fantastic live music. October 2: Michael Holt Michael Holt is a songwriter who has recently rediscovered his love of playing the piano. In contrast to earlier performances, which featured understated guitar, he's now exploring new territory by using his striking piano skills to create adventurous accompaniments. His personal, powerful songs have been described as "heartcore." Michael is also the first Spinning On Air guest to plan to perform not only his own songs, but also a piano Prelude by early 20th Century Russian composer Alexander Scriabin! October 9: Hannah Marcus Hannah Marcus returns to Spinning On Air with fresh songs and a new ensemble to play them. A group that includes piano, tuba, trumpet, guitar, and double bass makes it harder than ever to fit Hannah into any narrow category, but no matter: it allows her to create beautiful and unusual accompaniments for her thoughtful songs. October 16: Colleen A young woman from Paris, Cecile Schott records and performs under the name Colleen, because, she says, the repetitions and typographical loops in the name reflect her music. Using a blend of acoustic instruments—classical guitar, music boxes, cello, among others—and electronic digital delays, she weaves and layers sound into a gentle but rough-hewn tapestry. October 23: The Angels of Light The names of Michael Gira’s bands have conveyed music of beauty and grace: in the 1980s it was Swans; now it's The Angels of Light. But it's a harsh beauty and lumbering grace that these bands offer: an unusual balance of lyricism and raw passion, delicacy and brute force. The latest edition of The Angels of Light features the musicians of Akron/Family along with Gira's guitar and singing voice, which these days sounds like downtown New York's answer to Johnny Cash. October 30: Halloween For the last 18 years, Garland has been spinning a varying, choice selection of the many spooky and zany recordings celebrating Halloween. This year, knock again on Spinning On Air's creaking oaken door to receive a grab bag of tricky treats. November 6: The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band Bringing their violins, cello, double bass, drums, and electric and acoustic guitars all the way from Montreal to the WNYC studio, the seven members of The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band (all of whom also sing) perform their dramatic, mysterious, politically-charged songs about citizens, missiles, electric chairs, and more. November 13: Brian Lipson A computer purchase that led to a call from the Secret Service; the five best things in the world; the importance of nightmares; the solace of playing a trumpet. These are topics of songs by guitarist/singer Brian Lipson. Brian hones his austere songs to a sharp edge, yet they have a friendly, homemade quality.