RELEASE INFORMATION / LETTER FROM NAOMI / DISCOGRAPHIES
Song to the Siren: Damon & Naomi on Tour with Kurihara
A two-disc set: CD & DVD
Release date: April 23, 2002
After the release of their fourth full-length record (September 2000's Damon & Naomi with Ghost), Damon & Naomi toured extensively with Ghost guitarist Michio Kuirhara. This sort of prolonged touring produces a level of communication between the musicians distinct from that found on studio recordings. Or, as Kurihara describes it: "…during the tour I was gradually able to grasp their unique sense of timing and breathing. Particularly from around the middle of the tour on there were a number of amazing moments when we got this real synergy between the vibrations of the audience and the vibrations that we on stage were putting out. I guess that's what people mean when they talk about 'magic'." Some high points of this bout of touring included the 2000 Terrastock Festival in Seattle, Wash., a New York City CMJ performance with PJ Harvey, and a UK and European tour which reached its climax with the performance in San Sebastian, Spain documented here.
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Song to the Siren is a two-disc set, consisting of both the revelatory show captured in San Sebastian on CD, as well as a DVD tour diary from the UK/European tour, directed by Naomi. The DVD portion of Song to the Siren is a 54-minute guided tour of trains, clubs, "dressing rooms," and "hospitality suites," during which our heroes encounter fellow bands, local promoters, friends, family, and fans. And, it's all told with the charm, humor and honesty for which Damon & Naomi are known.
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About "Song to the Siren"
For as long as we have been musicians, I have always carried a camera with me on tour and have always documented our travels and adventures. Going all the way back to our days in Galaxie 500, these photographs have often found their way onto the artwork for our records - documenting my visual experiences along with our music. Last summer, though, on tour in the UK and Europe with Kurihara, I had both my usual camera, and a new mini-DV camera - a present from Damon.
As I learned how the mini-DV could capture things my still camera couldn't - the conversations we had amongst ourselves and with the people we met, the music of our fellow bands, and, most of all, the sense of time passing - I became very interested in it. It seemed like a way to combine the beauty of still photography, with the vitality of live performance.
I know my movie, like a live show, is far from technically perfect - but, to me, it captures perfectly the experience of being on tour.
- Naomi Yang
February 2002
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MY GUARDIAN ANGEL RECORDED A SHOW IN SAN SEBASTIAN
When I received an email message from Damon & Naomi telling me that they were (at last!) coming back to Spain, I was really happy I would be able to meet them again without having to cross the Atlantic and the Mediterranean to do it. I'd have to travel from my beautiful Mallorca hideaway to somewhere else in the continent, but the idea of spending some time with these sweet folkie folks and being able to see them play live again was well worth it. The San Sebastian show seemed immediately like one of the best possible choices: a lovely seaside city in Northern Spain (or should I be controversial and say, "…in the Basque Country" instead?), with the best architecture, irresistible local food and a few good friends I longed to see. The plan was to join the couple on their train trip down to Madrid (these people know how to put on a great tour, no stress, just an old-style traveling band), visit a bit around the capital and fly back to my small town retreat.
All of which I did. But also, I was asked to record their performance. Not knowing this beforehand I found myself without recording gear and forced to make the most of what I could borrow in San Sebastian - two hours before the show! Somehow, by the time the concert was about to begin, everything was miraculously set up; ready to press record and hope for the best. The show was so good from its very start that the entire room was kept silent and hypnotized - including me! I didn't realize I was actually recording the show until they were already halfway through it. Call me a fan.
Fortunately enough, my recording guardian angel was looking after everything for me. When Naomi started singing their last song in Japanese I smiled beatifically, went back to the desk, checked the overall sound, shook hands with the sound man and took a long, restful breath. I poured myself a glass of wine and walked nonchalantly towards the dressing room. I had some really good news to tell them.
I hope you will have a great time remembering that very special moment of my life. I still do.
-- Joan Vich Montaner
February 2002
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Abbreviated Discographies:
Damon & Naomi:
Pierre Etoile (EP) - Rough Trade Records R2720, 1991 (12"/CD); reissued by Elefant Records ER306, 1997 (CD)
More Sad Hits - Shimmy-Disc Shimmy058, 1992 (LP/CD); reissued by Sub Pop SPCD385, 1997 (CD)
The Wondrous World of Damon & Naomi - Sub Pop SP322 (LP), SPCD322 (CD), 1995
"The Navigator" b/w "Awake in a Muddle" - Earworm 3,1997 (7")
Playback Singers - Sub Pop SPCD425, 1998 (CD)
"It's All Over Now Baby Blue" b/w "Yoo Doo Right" (with Batoh & Kurihara) - Grimsey Records, Grimsey011,1999 (7")
Damon & Naomi with Ghost - Sub Pop SPCD501, 2000 (CD); Drag City DC206, 2000 (LP)
Song to the Siren: Damon & Naomi on Tour with Kurihara - Sub Pop SPCD592, 2002 (CD+DVD)
(with Galaxie 500:)
"Tugboat" b/w "King of Spain" - Aurora Records AU001,1988 (7")
Today - Aurora Records AU002,1988 (LP); Schemer 8905,1989 (CD); reissued by Rough Trade R266, 1991 (LP/CD); reissued by Rykodisc RCD10356, 1997 (CD)
Blue Thunder (EP) - Rough Trade Records T246,1989 (12"/CD)
On Fire - Rough Trade Records Rough146,1989 (LP/CD); reissued by Rykodisc RCD10357, 1997 (CD)
"Rain" b/w "Don't Let Our Youth Go to Waste" - Caff Corporation Caff9,1990 (7")
"Fourth of July" b/w "Here She Comes Now" - Rough Trade Records T249,1990 (12"/CD)
This Is Our Music - Rough Trade Records Rough156,1990 (LP/CD); reissued by Rykodisc RCD10358, 1997 (CD)
Galaxie 500 (Box Set: Today, On Fire, This Is Our Music, Uncollected Galaxie 500) - Rykodisc RCD10355,1996 (4xCD)
Copenhagen - Rykodisc RCD10373,1997 (live recording from 1990) (CD)
The Portable Galaxie 500 - Rykodisc RCD10445,1998 (CD)
Michio Kurihara:
(with Ghost:)
Ghost - P.S.F. Records PSFD-9, 1990 (CD); Drag City, DC127,1997 (LP/CD)
Temple Stone - P.S.F. Records PSFD-37, 1994 (CD); Drag City, DC129, 1997 (LP/CD)
"Moungod Air Cave" b/w "Guru in the Echo" - The Now Sound TNS 05, 1995 (7")
Lama Rabi Rabi - Drag City DC113, 1996 (2xLP/CD)
Snuffbox Immanence - Drag City DC148, 1999 (LP/CD)
Tune In, Turn On, Free Tibet - Drag City DC165, 1999 (2xLP/CD)
(with White Heaven:)
Out - P.S.F. Records PSF-11, 1991 (LP); 1995 (CD)
"Blind Promise" on Tokyo Flashback - P.S.F. Records PSFD-12, 1991 (CD)
Next to Nothing - Noon Disk NOON 9401 (CD), 1994; NOON 9601, 1996 (LP)
"Midsummer Stroll" on Tokyo Flashback 3 - P.S.F. Records PSFD-34, 1994 (CD)
"Threshold of the Pain" b/w "4 Hours (in the afternoon)" - H.G. Fact HG-014, 1994 (7")
Electric Cool Acid - Noon Disk NOON 9502, 1995 (live recordings from1987-88) (CD)
"Gravity" on Audible Rumbles Volume 1, CD included with subscriptions to Ptolemaic Terrascope magazine, POTCD2, 1996
Levitation - The Now Sound TNS 09, 1997 (recorded in 1988) (LP)
(with The Stars:)
Today (EP) - P.S.F. Records PSFD-1001, 2001 (CD)
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