Rob Conery's Blog

Low

Low is … one of those bands that doesn’t need an introduction. They just are, and seemingly have always been. They’re the pioneers of “Slow Core” and if you don’t know them, or haven’t heard of them - you’re in for a treat. They’re just one of those bands you simply *must* know.

Low’s latest album is “C’mon” and like most of Low’s albums - it’s in perpetual rotation on every musical apparatus I own.

To date Low has put out 9 full-length albums, plus various other EPs, Singles, and Live albums. C’mon is my favorite - if I can even use the word here.

Each album stands alone in terms of theme and tone. C’mon is lush and loving - like a warm hug from the band you know and love. Mimi Parker’s voice is rich and soulful, full of hope and Alan Sparhawk’s guitar work is amazing.

If you don’t know what “Slow-core” is - it’s basically a deconstruction of the musical elements of any song, with the extra “stuff” stripped away and the timing turned a bit down. The song is given the focus: the rhythms and timing follow the slower tunings of the body and you’re given time to take in what the song is about.

I liken this to Tai Chi. Most people think of martial arts as high flying kicks and swift punches - whereas the masters that teach the movements know that true mastery comes in the slow repetition of the katas.

That’s the key to Lows music in my eyes: the slow repetition of Life’s various Kata’s. It takes a bit of getting used to - but if you have the quiet of your car or some headphones, it’s easy to let songs like C’mon’s brilliant “Especially Me” sink right into your bones:

The songs on C’mon are more than simple “huggy” tunes - they go beneath the beauty of human contact and dig up the what it means to truly know someone else.

In “You See Everything”, the song’s overtly sappy somewhat dated opening belies the truth of knowing someone, deeply: uncovering who they are to the core and being OK with what you dig up. Mimi’s chorus in this song gives me chills every time I hear it:

Low’s catalog is a study in “the slow” in the same way that Yo La Tengo explores “The Quiet”. Not every song needs pound it’s point across with high-intensity riffs and wailing. 

This track from The Great Destroyer is one of my all-time favorites. Once again Mimi’s voice just sends chills right up my spine:

This song was also covered by Robert Plant, of all people, for the Batman movie in 2008. I like the original far better and I think it says something about the song that I just can’t hear anyone else sing it … other than the people who wrote it.

There are so many great tunes to choose from - each one is a study in the teardown of modern music into its core elements: sound, beat, and emotion. In fact I challenge you not to find each of those in every Low song.

The fact that it *is* so very slow puts a massive glaring emphasis on why people write songs to begin with: to convey a little truth inside themselves. In an age when everything is prefabricated and focus-grouped, it’s incredibly refreshing to listen to a band that strips all of that away and simply gives you themselves, straight between the eyes.

This song, probably my favorite of their songs, takes you on a spiritual journey through the act of a rite of passage.  A simple requirement: “Two step around then room then kneel down on white.”

It can apply to anything. It can apply to nothing - or everything in between. Just like the band itself:

As I said in the beginning - if you haven’t heard of this band before, you’re in for a major treat. Don’t stop at the recent album (if you like it) - go ahead and load up the complete discography.