Where To Start

One and six equals twelve divided into twenty doesn’t exactly make sense unless you are Minnesota’s Low. Their new album 'Ones And Sixes' is their twelfth in a career spanning over twenty years. You may have caught Low at this year's Electric Picnic or happened upon the preview singles from their latest album over the past few months.

If you’re new to them and only coming to realise their longevity it can be a bewildering task as to where to begin especially considering the huge amount of output from Alan Sparhawk, Mimi Parker and Steve Garrington (who replaced long term bass player, Zak Sally). As well as twelve albums, they have numerous EP’s and some singles. It’s a rich tapestry of work.

In comparison to their early minimalist days of the '90s, Low now sound relatively more expansive. That’s not to say it doesn’t eschew all the core principles of their music – shimmering atmospherics, sparse instrumentation, measured pacing and stunning harmonies between Sparhawk and Parker.

If you had to single out one aspect which characterises Low's music it is the vocals. Parker's vocals are as sorrowful and striking as Portishead's Beth Gibbons while Sparhawk's singing is unmistakably straight from the heart. Low sometimes tweet pictures of guitars “to keep you warm at night”. Theirs is a body of work to envelop you and keep you snug at night.

Rather than break it down by decade our guide focuses on what are the most accessible album/EP's to start with and then works its way on from there. So without further ado, dive in here.

Album: Secret Name (1999)

low-secretnameMaverick producer Steve Albini may not have seemed like the obvious choice to work with Low. Best known for getting a primal sound from the likes of the Pixies and Nirvana, it was his tendencies towards recording with a stripped back minimalism that in hindsight made the marriage of Albini and Low such a success. Working with Albini was an important step for Low in continuing their evolution during the late '90s as he helped them step outside their own boundaries. ‘Secret Name’ is crucial in terms of how it laid the foundation for later albums with songs like Starfire gradually adding subtle shifts in texture and tone. The harmonies are sweeter and with greater clarity than before. At that point (1999) it was arguably their best album to date and remains revered amongst fans of the band.

Key Tracks : Weight Of Water, Missouri, Starfire, Immune

Album : Things We Lost In The Fire (2001)

Low-TWLITF‘Things We Lost In The Fire’ saw Low truly embrace the forcefulness of the electric guitar. At turns dramatic, soothing, and more full blooded than previous efforts, the second of their albums recorded with Steve Albini sees Low finally dispense all their shackles. It's the first evidence of them becoming the band we know today. It’s regarded as a seminal album in their career – the juncture between their glacial paced soft and sincere tracks from the '90s to the almost pop-esque nature of more recent records. It's also their most humane and dignified album with Sparhawk and Parker's asking questions on love and loss. From here on in, they never looked back.

Key tracks : Dinosaur Act, Like A Forest, Sunflower, In Metal

Album : Ones And Sixes (2015)

Low1-6Now twelve albums in, it’s remarkable to see Low are still masters of the understated craft. 'Ones And Sixes' is rich , dreamlike, dramatic and mysterious. It’s got something to cover all the bases for long term Low fans. As an entry point to Low it’s a great starting place as its shows Low at the height of their powers – the sum of all their experiences perfectly captured into twelve songs. All while never losing sight for where they came from.

Key Tracks : Lies, What Part Of Me, No Compadre

Album : The Great Destroyer (2005)

low-destroyerLow currently reside on SubPop and 'The Great Destroyer' was the first of their four albums for SubPop to date. It also marked a period of turmoil for Sparhawk whose mother died leading him into a period of depression (where he believed he was the Anti-christ). With Mercury Rev’s Dave Fridmann on production duty he added a more lush and polished sound without Low losing their identity. There is almost a mid '90s pop sheen in the vein of Matthew Sweet's 'Girlfriend' to 'The Great Destroyer' making it their most accessible record in their catalog.

Key Tracks : California, Silver Rider

What To Listen To Next

 

Album : The Invisible Way (2013)

low-invisible2013’s The Invisible Way saw Low’s song writing hark back to 'Long Division' and ‘I Could Live In Hope’. While the music and singing evoked that the pastoral feel of their early days, Jeff Tweedy's production is a back to basics approach, without stripping it back to a complete facsimile of previous albums. There is simplicity from Low on this album especially on Just Make It Stop which reminiscent of Yo La Tengo's less fuzzed out moments. The vocal harmonies are among some of Low’s best especially on Waiting.

Key Tracks: Clarence White, Just Make It Stop, On My Own

Album : Trust (2002)

low-trustAfter boldly making changes to the song style on ‘Things We Lost In The Fire’, Low delved deeper into darker tones than ever before on 'Trust'. Though it didn’t match the high watermark of their two previous albums, 'Trust' still contains some of Low’s finest moments – from the drone stomp of Canada, to the poignant Point Of Disgust and the marching beat of Last Snowstorm Of The Year. What really lets 'Trust' down is a few turgid tracks like John Prine and The Lamb which could have down with reworking.

Key Tracks : Canada, Point of Disgust, Last Snowstorm Of The Year, In The Drugs

Album : Long Division (1995)

low-divisionSome of the tracks on ‘Long Division’ had appeared on Low’s self-titled debut EP two years before namely (Caroline and Below & Above). In the company of tracks like Throw Out the Line they fit seamlessly in. Overall the production is crisper and the tone more serene than on ‘I Could Live In Hope’. ‘Long Division’ solidified their reputation and musical style rather than expanding on their debut.

Key Tracks : Caroline, Below & Above, Throw Out The Line

Album : C’mon (2011)

low-cmon2011's 'C'mon' saw another change of producer for Low with them making the surprise selection of Matt Beckley (better known for producing Katy Perry and Avril Lavigne). Additional musicians such as Wilco’s Nels Cline on guitar/lap steel guitar added that extra depth on the songs that further distanced Low from their original minimalism. 'C’mon' is more vivid than previous albums, but still has glimpses of sorrow and melancholy (Witches, $20). In the end you are inevitably drawn to the spiralling climatic epicentre of the album around Majesty/Magic and Nothing But Heart.

Key Tracks : Majesty/Magic, Nothing But Heart

EP : Christmas (1999)

low-xmasChristmas albums tend to be those picked up with embarrassment in the bargain bin after the yule tide period. Overly sugary, covered in schmaltz, bells and vacuous. This isn’t the case for Low. Even looking at the CD for 'Christmas' confirmed as much – “This is our gift to you”. You wouldn’t doubt their sincerity or sentiment either. Opening with the only overtly obvious Xmas sounding single Just Like Xmas about touring Stockholm, it’s done with understated ease. Sparhawk’s Long Way Around The Sea is a stark reminder of the true non-commercial origins of Xmas. Even the covers of traditional Christmas songs like Silent Night and Little Drummer Boy are perfectly formed.

Key Tracks : Long Way Around The Sea, Just Like Christmas

Not For The Uninitiated

 

Album : The Curtain Hits The Cast (1996)

low-curtainIt was ‘The Curtain That Hits The Cast’ which really broke the band through to a much larger audience thanks in part to US college radio picking up on Over The Ocean. The evolution of Low was again tiny steps rather than a giant leap. Dirge guitar began to develop before giving way to ornate arrangements in what is ultimately a more weighty album, particularly on the fifteen minute Do You Now How To Waltz? which bears similarities to the music of then tour mates (and post rock giants) Godspeed you! Black Emperor. Taken in context within Low's overall output you're better off starting at some of the later albums and working your back to fully appreciate 'The Curtain Hits The Cast'.

Key Tracks : Over The Ocean, The Plan

Album : Drums and Guns (2007)

low-drumsAfter Sparhawk felt well enough to return to the band after illness, they began work on 'Drums And Guns' with Dave Fridmann also returning as producer. This album was in part inspired by the war in Iraq with songs like Murderer particularly pointed and bleak. Gone is the almost sunshine haze of 'The Great Destroyer' replaced with a harrowing, sonorous feel. There is a greater emphasis on percussion with Dragonfly and Sandinista using differing techniques from Parker to generate the tension and atmosphere. It’s their darkest album after 'Trust' and while it has its moments it is certainly one of the more difficult Low albums to digest.

Key tracks : Sandinista, Murderer

Album: I Could Live In Hope (1994)

low-hopeLow introduced their spine tingling, austere and unpretentious songs to the masses first in 1994 on the Vernon Yard label. Even the cover of You Are My Sunshine gets taken down a notch of Sunshine and takes on an altogether meaning with haunting vocals of Sparhawk and Parker. Low’s music was the antithesis to what was going on within grunge. This is an album that requires your full attention and while it ultimately rewards your patience it's best to start with Low's more immediate albums first.

Keys tracks – Words, Slide, Lullaby

Only For The Completionist

 

Album : OwL - Low remixes (1998)

low-owlThe very concept of a remix album based on Low’s sedate indie rock was one to raise eyebrows in complete befuddlement. Yet, it occurred. Low themselves were not involved and it was the brainchild of their label who rang them up and said, “Hey, we’re going to get a remix album of your music done”. As useful as a chocolate teapot.

 

EP: In The Fishtank #7 (2004)

low-fishtankA collaborative effort with Australian instrumentalists Dirty Three , this was part of the In The Fishtank series by Dutch indie music distributor KonKurrent. The likes of Sonic Youth, Sparklehorse and Willard Grant Conspiracy had also been part of this series where each band taking part in an episode got two days studio time to come up with an album. While by no means an offence on the ears, Low’s and Dirty Three’s effort didn't gel in the way you would have hoped for. It just doesn't make essential listening especially in light of the general high standard of other albums from Low.

 

EP: Songs For A Dead Pilot (1997)

low-pilotEven within Low’s cannon of pedestrian paced music ‘Songs For a Dead Pilot’ is far too prosaic and ponderous. The experimentalism they were working with ( a washing machine was used for drum thuds on Be There) just didn’t translate into memorable songs. There are too faults and inconsistencies throughout. Born To The Wire clocks in at over thirteen minutes during which you wonder why you even bothered listening to it and struggle to remember parts that just occurred. However the best song Be There did provide clues for how their songwriting would progress on ‘Secret Name’.

 

EP: Transmission (1996)

low-transThe title track of 'Transmission' is a cover of the Joy Division's song. It’s a slowed down atmospheric cover, with Sparhawk and Parker's harmonies adding a warmth to what is a frantic and claustrophobic original. Other than this cover version, the other five original songs have little to recommend on the 'Transmission' EP. If you must, seek out the Transmission cover but you are missing little else.