Since their days in Galaxie 500, Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang have been masters of somber, reflective folk-pop. Ghost guitarist Michio Kurihara again joins the duo keeping the sound as fresh as ever. Yang’s poised vocals on “Shadow Boxing” break in a horn-like effect with a simple grace that mixes classic ‘60s folk with Parisian pop. “Ophelia” adds an indie-pop veneer, with the electric guitars and Yang’s electric piano adding an early-‘70s feel. “Nettles and Ivy,” with Yang at an acoustic piano, sounds like a half-remembered dream, the vocals slipping into a muted haze. “And You Are There” is the ultimate rainy-day anthem. One can imagine the windshield wipers clacking in time. “What She Brings” features the duo’s close-knit harmonies in a wash of reverb. The quiet whisper of “Helsinki” is subliminal beauty. Like all great Damon & Naomi music, False Beats is best absorbed over time. Melodies grow as the atmosphere takes hold.
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