Azure Ray - 'Hold On Love' (Saddle Creek) Released 06/10/03

As pedigree's go, Azure Ray couldn't get any indier. Co-vocalists Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor have been both support act and backing band for Conor Oberst (a.k.a. the enigmatic and hugely-talented Bright Eyes), and are labelmates with hip-as-**** mental-poppers The Faint.

Over the years, they've honed their gentle, quietly gorgeous harmony pop to perfection, and have gained a reputation for stunningly emotional live shows. On album number three, however, they've decided to add a loosely trip-hop vibe to proceedings, and have subsequently lost much of the ethereal beauty that haunted their previously fine ambient acoustica. While once they were aiming for the dreamy heights of Low's gorgeous sadcore, they're now little more than Dawnson's Creek soundtrack music. Which is a shame, obviously!