By my count this is the first new Damon & Naomi album in 10 years. Sure, there have been other releases, but this is the first new record since False Beats and True Hearts. And, like on that record, the two former members of Galaxie 500 continue to refine their sound, simplifying what was already simple in the pursuit of something pure and true. Here on A Sky Record the duo is joined by guitarist Michio Kurihara (Ghost), and the plaintiveness of the music benefits from his tones.
But, really, as always it's Damon & Naomi's show, from the yearning "Oceans in Between", with its mournful-yet-hopeful vibe, to the stretched-out resignation of "Sailing By", one of the better Damon-voiced tracks here. A Sky Record works up a mood and sort of expands upon it over the course of each track. If Naomi's finest moments here are in the elegantly spacious "Season Without Time", a listener could also make the case that the clear and bright "Invincible" is one of the duo's best tracks in ages. Precise and delicate, it's also full of that earthy grace the best D&N numbers have, enough that Kurihara's guitar seems to sing, rather than pierce through the melody.
A Sky Record is a rather simple record, even in comparison to earlier Damon & Naomi releases, but the simplicity rests upon a minimalism that's both heartfelt and formal. Krukowski and Yang seemed to have chosen each note with the utmost of care, and as those sounds are layered, the overall effect seems to draw a listener further into the material. A Sky Record is old fashioned in that it feels like it deserves to be listened to in one sitting, as an album, like they used to be. The whole thing peaks with the closing duo of "How I Came to Photograph Clouds", a spry showcase for both voices, and the closer "The Aftertime" with Naomi's voice here taking this into another realm entirely. As always, Damon & Naomi have made something that feels special with a minimum of pretension. If some of this recalls the languid pace of the best Galaxie 500 more than other D&N offerings, that's another plus.
A Sky Record is out on Friday. Link below.
More details on Damon & Naomi via DamonandNaomi.com.
[Photo: Damon & Naomi]