In the late 1980s Galaxie 500 were at the forefront of a tiny revolution in indie rock. Although influenced by the Velvet Underground, the Boston trio turned rock dynamics inside out, celebrating quietness, slowness and aesthetic frailty. After three albums they dissolved, and their frontman, Dean Wareham, went on to moderate success with the more prosaic Luna. Meanwhile, his former bandmates Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang retreated into the underground. They established a book imprint to publish esoteric texts, and released music so gentle and precious that it made Galaxie 500 sound bombastic.

In the five years since their last, woefully overlooked, album, the pair’s brand of psychedelic folk has been adopted by a new generation of American scenesters. The Earth is Blue arrives, then, at a propitious time, with this fine duo set finally to enjoy the acclaim that has bypassed them for more than a decade. This subtle yet expansive album is fleshed out by a jazz horn section and the discreet pyrotechnics of the Japanese guitarist Michio Kurihara. And if you can stomach yet another Beatles cover, While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a perfect example of how Damon & Naomi rethink rock convention with uncommon delicacy.

(20/20/20)

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