R1992 By 1992, Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang had form as members of much-garlanded indie shamblers Galaxie 500, and as a duo trading as Pierre Etoile. It was at this point that they were chivvied into a studio by Galaxie 500’s producer Kramer, also major domo of eccentric New York imprint Shimmydisc. The album that resulted is commendable for distilling most of the virtues of the lo-fi ethos of Galaxie 500/Kramer while largely avoiding its vices. Which is to say that More Sad Hits is modest, honest, human, organic-sounding and riddled with some exquisite tunes, without descending into wilful amateurism or irritating wackiness. The wistful “Laika” suggests a garage Cocteau Twins, while the mournful “This Car Climbed Mount Washington” summons a pale and interesting ghost of Robert Wyatt – who enthused about “More Sad Hits” at the time, and with good reason. ANDREW MUELLER For more album reviews, click here for the UNCUT music archive
R1992
By 1992, Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang had form as members of much-garlanded indie shamblers Galaxie 500, and as a duo trading as Pierre Etoile. It was at this point that they were chivvied into a studio by Galaxie 500’s producer Kramer, also major domo of eccentric New York imprint Shimmydisc.
The album that resulted is commendable for distilling most of the virtues of the lo-fi ethos of Galaxie 500/Kramer while largely avoiding its vices. Which is to say that More Sad Hits is modest, honest, human, organic-sounding and riddled with some exquisite tunes, without descending into wilful amateurism or irritating wackiness.
The wistful “Laika” suggests a garage Cocteau Twins, while the mournful “This Car Climbed Mount Washington” summons a pale and interesting ghost of Robert Wyatt – who enthused about “More Sad Hits” at the time, and with good reason.
ANDREW MUELLER
For more album reviews, click here for the UNCUT music archive
