Furthering the Slowcore Sound

For those that are new to Low, the Duluth, Minnesota based band, it only takes eight minutes of listening to their new album, Ones and Sixes, to be sold. This album is a record that is overflowing with the haunting vocals of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker and the ambient instrumentation that they produce.

The first thing to note about the record is that the music sounds as if it incorporates a plethora of instruments, but when listening closely, it is apparent that this album is decidedly minimalist. This minimalism is refreshing, as so many current musicians drown out what could be a unique sound with the rackety, monotonous noise of auto tune or the delusion that adding obscure instruments makes their music sound interesting.

Unlike those records, Low manages to create a sound that inspires a meditative reaction. A majority of this album would be best enjoyed in a dimly lit room with candles burning and incense smoke undulating with the rhythms of the music; however, there are a handful of songs that are best described as night driving music. It is that sound that inspires a contemplative but tranquil feeling while driving through abandoned streets late at night, admiring the lights from downtown as they illuminate the sky above. For instance, the song “What Part of Me” is one where the raspy guitar echoes over the speakers and slowly drifts out through the windows ascending to the ether. The lyrics are painful and the sadness is ever growing with the repetition of the words “What part of me don’t you know” paired perfectly with Sparhawk and Parker’s elegiac harmony.

The one song that stands out, however, is “No End.” This stirring and intricate track is drenched in pop-y rhythms and manipulated guitars. It feels as if the vocals of a Neutral Milk Hotel song combined with the synthesizers of Depeche Mode to create a sound that was then delivered with the happy harmonizing similar to that of The Beach Boys. The lyrics, however happy they may sound, explore the difficulty of a solitary life after a breakup and the things that one resorts to in order to win back a former love.

By the end of this album and after many meditative moments, it is easy to see the beauty and talent that these musicians possessed. This melancholic band is certainly worth exploring further and considering that they have been around since 1993, it should not be difficult to delve further into their rich discography.