Can you really talk about Damon & Naomi without talking about Galaxie 500? Well I guess not, because that’s how I’m starting this review. Galaxie 500 were a short-lived three piece alternative rock band that recorded three albums, and a few EPs (including a killer cover of Joy Division/New Order’s “Ceremony”) of dreamy, atmospheric garage rock that featured the simplicity of The Velvet Underground coupled with the tenderness of Mazzy Star. After the singer/guitarist quit, the rhythm section, continued as Damon & Naomi.
Since 1992, Damon & Naomi have been putting out their own brand of sleepy, atmospheric folk rock. I won’t lie to you and say that I’ve listened to everything they have put out of over the years but I have caught the occasional album or few songs here and there, but my general consensus has been Damon & Naomi albums are growers. Pop in one of their albums and I assure you, nothing will hit you in seconds and keep you hooked for life, but that’s not a bad thing, some of my favorite albums are the ones that have to creep under your skin and hit you when you least expect it.With their latest album Fortune the duo doesn’t stray too far from the status quo, but fine tunes it into something that grows and is as strikingly beautiful previous efforts. An album that’s hard to describe without hearing it for yourself to say the least.
Recently I had to make a five hour road trip to visit a sick family member. It was early enough to remain dark for the next couple hours, I was alone and needed something to keep me occupied, so it was the perfect opportunity to give Damon & Naomi’s Fortune my undivided attention. After about half way through it, I was in such deep thought that I almost, sort of forgot what I was listening to. On paper, it makes no sense whatsoever that an album that makes you forget you are listening it, can be called a decent record, so I’m sure you are scratching your head, and I was too! In fact, I started it over from the first track and tried it again. That time, I managed to get a bit further into it before I was trailing off again. The verdict was in: Fortune is background music.
I don’t want to get too philosophical here, but I think we can all agree that there are plenty of different reasons why we enjoy certain types of music. Dancing, partying, sulking, adrenaline, etc. Obviously there will be music out there that will make you reflect. Unless it’s something hypnotically repetitive like Kraftwerk, music that makes you reflect is due to some sort of nostalgia. Fortune doesn’t fuel nostalgia at all, I’ve listened to it from start to finish six times and I still can’t pin point what the lyrical theme is. It’s just soft, pretty, simplistic music that lulls you off into deep thought with it’s beauty. If I were listening to a rock record that puts me to sleep, it’s probably just really boring, but what sort of feelings should folk music invoke anyway?
From start to finish Fortune is pretty much one note and nothing comes out of left field. The standard structure is usually as follows: airy acoustic guitar strums, sparkly piano noodling, a couple quiet vocal whispers, end. It’s pacing is what makes it all come together. Songs like the opening track “The Seeker” or “Reflections” seem like a complete waste because they abruptly end a little past the minute mark before their groove sets in, while two other criminally short songs “Towards Tomorrow” and “Hurt House” make you sad that they barely reach two minutes. It’s been said that in show business, you are suppose to leave the audience wanting more, but this is genius how Damon & Naomi have this worked out to a science.
My favorite song would have to be “Sky Memories” but describing that one would be like describing them all. Just about every song shares the same production from a technical stand point, and being the songs are mostly the same tempo, that would make any other album sleep inducing, but in the grand scheme of things it makes Fortune sounds as if you are listening to Damon & Naomi in a candle lit, intimate live setting yet, not raw or live sounding. With all the songs sounding similar, by-numbers production, underwhelming song lengths, and over all short running time, it sounds as if I’m describing a boring, forgettable album, but Fortune defies those synonyms and gives the listener a beautiful, personal, listening experience. It might be glorified background music for an early morning road trip, but sometimes we need just that to remind us how beautiful the simple things in life can be.
Rating: 4/5