Moon Duo

Originally a humble offshoot of heavy psych ensemble Wooden Shjips, Moon Duo have evolved into their own longstanding source of entrancement. Formed in San Francisco in 2009 by Wooden Shjips guitarist Erik “Ripley” Johnson and keyboardist Sanae Yamada, the two-piece began by channeling the distorted drones of Suicide and Spacemen 3. After recording their potent 2010 debut album Escape in a windowless rehearsal space, Moon Duo explored much further afield. The 2011 follow-up Mazes blended Krautrock repetition with the bleary drag of classic psych rock. Incorporating their touring drummer John Jeffrey into recording sessions gave the band more heft and precision alike, as heard on 2015’s poppier Shadow of the Sun. As readily identifiable as Moon Duo’s hazy vocals, groggy organ and free-spooling guitar had become, 2019’s Stars Are the Light saw the outfit—now based in Portland, Oregon—draw unlikely inspiration from slow-burn, sun-dazed disco.