Damon & Naomi

Though Damon & Naomi may never completely emerge from the shadow of Galaxie 500, their gradual progression has found them making records that sound rather different from their previous band. Much of that is due to their ongoing collaborations with Michio Kurihara (from Japanese band Ghost), something that has helped take the duo into the realm of psychedelic folk music. It's only fitting that their seventh studio album opens with the otherworldly "Walking Backwards," a prime example of this partnership. Elsewhere on False Beats and True Hearts, it's Naomi who steals the show again and again with her barely-there vocals, depicting melancholy so wonderfully. With a greater folk influence than previously, most of the album sounds like a quieter version of Mojave 3 ― the tone is hushed and there's hardly any urgency to the songs. It's a subtle change, but one that opens up a new world of opportunities to Damon & Naomi, where they might finally be able to leave their past behind.