Damon & Naomi -‘False Beats and True Hearts’ (Broken Horse)

It is now nearly twenty five years since Damon and Naomi first emerged. Initially as two-thirds of the seminal Galaxie 500, and then afetr three albums, as an act in their own right (starting their career with the gorgeous More Sad Hits album), Damon and Naomi have been responsible for some of the most sublime music released in that period.

Whether you are a new fan, or have followed them since the day you first heard ‘Tugboat’, their recordings are still sublime, and – I’m going to say it – life-affirming. This is folkier than some of their previous albums – ‘Shadow Boxing’ has hints of both Richard & Linda Thompson and Fairport Convention – and none the worse for it, either.

Other highlights on the album include ‘Nettles and Ivy’ and the little short of astonishing ‘And You Are There.’ I’ve already played this twice today, I want to play this album at least twice again before sundown. It’s that good…

****1/2

Damon and Naomi -‘Walking Backwards.’ mp3

Hear ‘And You Are There’ here

Damon and Naomi -‘More Sad Hits’ (Re-issue) (20-20-20)

A year after Galaxie 500 dissolved, Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang returned to producer their producer Kramer’s studio and recorded this album chock-full of what have been described as psychedelic break-up songs.

When Galaxie 500 had disbanded, they weren’t even sure about continuing, and according to the sleevenotes to this re-issue, seemed to have enetered a stage of almost hibernation where they listened to Robert Wyatt’s Rock Bottom over and over again. Comrade Wyatt – and I use that phrase as warmly as possible – described this album on release as being “Like real water in a world of soda pop.” It’s so real, so pure…so different. Yes, of course you can hear aspects of Galaxie 500 in here, but if you’ve never heard Damon and Naomi before, don’t simply expect them to sound like Luna. This is some of the most beuatiful and fragile music you will ever hear. Belle and Sebastian and Low amongst others must have been taking notes.

But don’t simply pigeonhole this as hardcore indie or slowcore or whatever. This is an album that has widely, and rightly, become regarded as an underground classic. now it’s time for it to become as well-known as it deserves.

****1/2

More Sad Hits is out now on 20-20-20.

Damon and Naomi -‘E.T.A.’ mp3 (more mp3s can be found here)

Damon and Naomi’s website