Azure Ray

有一种音乐，作为背景音乐时毫无知觉，只觉得很轻缓、很好听，但让你很想放下手边工作，等你看看歌词，仔细听她们到底在唱什麼时，却不自觉让旋律一遍一遍至熟记为止，这些缓慢悲伤的曲子，有著心情净化的仪式效果。MariaTaylor和OrendaFink两个女生组成的AzureRay，即是属于这一类。

MariaTaylor和OrendaFink出生于美国乔治亚州Athens，与R.E.M.是同乡(年纪差不多是他们的侄女辈吧)。两人十六岁时结识于亚拉巴马州立艺术学校，Maria主修芭蕾，Orenda主修戏剧，都对音乐保持强烈兴趣。毕业後搬到内布达加斯州Omaha参加了powerpop乐队LittleRedRocket，之後组成低调民谣风格的AzureRay。所加入的独立厂牌SaddleCreek，就像个大家庭，乐手都在两个以上的乐队演出，彼此熟识，相互支援，例如AzureRay常与BrightEyes巡回演出，让Omaha成为近年来美国中西部独立摇滚的重要基地。
Azure Ray在音乐的表现上最引人注目的是MariaTaylor和OrendaFink默契绝佳、清新淡雅的和声，空心吉他、钢琴的器乐演奏以及优美的旋律都是聆听的重点，她们的曲风像是不吵闹时候的ThrowingMuses，表现出纤细脆弱情感时的KristinHersh和TanyaDonelly姊妹俩，有些曲子又有著MazzyStar的梦幻感。


Azure Ray于2004年解散，Fink与Taylor目前正在进行solo以及其他合作项目。

The Southern dream pop duo of Azure Ray began their rise in 2001 when former  Bright Eyes members Orenda Fink  and Maria Taylor joined Crooked Fingers/Archers of Loaf's Eric Bachmann for something musically enchanting. A little more stripped than Bright Eyes and their other outfit, Little Red Rocket, Fink, and Taylor shaped a delicate soundscape for their 2001 critical self-titled debut. The next winter, Azure Ray issued the November EP on Saddle Creek, which featured collaborative work with  Andy Lemaster (Now It's Overhead).Sophomore effort  Burn and Shiver followed in spring 2002 and exuded a more serene soundscape and slick production work from Bachmann. Fink and Taylor also collaborated with moby on the song "The Great Escape" for his 2002 release, 18. A year later, Funk and Taylor continued their steady pace of writing and recording. Their naturally warm tone was polished up for Hold On Love.