Damon & Naomi w/ Kurihara
Song to the Siren
CD&DVD (Sub Pop)

Damon & Naomi recapitalize on the success of their collaborations with members of Ghost by presenting this astounding live document from the San Sebastian stop of their tour with guitar samurai Kurihara. Their lazy gauze wrapped folk songs never sounded so good as when the notes of Kurihara's sometimes quiet, often blistering solos slice through them like the blades of the 47 Ronin. Highlights are 'The Eye of the Storm' which opens with a feedback buzz reminiscent of a plane engine that then falls into crescendos of notes flowing effortlessly out of the speakers. I suppose its sort of psychedelic, but only in a Mushroom tea kind of way. Everything continues to swirl around anchored by the strum of Damon's acoustic and Naomi's hauntingly beautiful voice, before building into an awe inspiring cascade of notes towards the song's end. This pattern repeats itself in the equally stunning 'The Great Wall' with a two-minute solo from Kurihara that'll leave you gasping for breath. It amazes me that Damon & Naomi get better with each record they put out, and continue to find new ways to sound as relevant as ever. Every song on here is worthy of the highest praise, but I especially liked the closer, 'Love,' which is actually a Japanese song, and Naomi sings it in its native tongue.

The DVD is equally brilliant. A tour diary which chronicles their trip across Europe, you get to hear excellent live songs which supplement the music on the CD. You also get to see such behind the scene action as Naomi's haircut, Richard Young and Damon debating whether or not to drink whiskey out of Styrofoam cups, a British business man reading reviews of "Damon and Naomi with Ghost" in a mocking American accent. Not to mention live performances by the aforementioned Richard Youngs, and the Clientele. The camera work is often shaky, but this isn't supposed to be Citizen Kane, and besides it's a fun way to get a look at the band on the road especially if you live somewhere like Phoenix and your chances of ever seeing them in person are minute at best. A great addition to the CD.

-Dan