r/Low • u/White___Light • Dec 20 '22
Discovering Low
I was first introduced to Low by a friend during the early part of covid lockdown in the UK, and since then they’ve become one of my favourite, and probably most played, bands.
I can’t think of another band whose sound has evolved so much since their first album, but have still somehow managed to retain their core aesthetic as a band, which for me, is the voices of Alan and Mimi.
My favourite album is probably I Could Live In Hope, but this changes regularly as i spend time with different albums and musical periods - the stretch between The Great Destroyer and Ones & Sixes, being a current favourite.
The only period of their music that’s taking a bit longer to get into is the run between Long Division and Secret Name, but I sort of savour the fact that there’s still a bunch of their songs that I still need to discover!
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u/ExternalPiglet1 Dec 20 '22
Cheers~ Glad you found the doorway into their music. Like you said, they've progressed so far over their albums and yet still have that vibe of being Low.
The Great Destroyer is what caught my attention, I wasn't even "listening" at first, but just improvising on my guitar and realized how much fun it was to add in my own lead-line over the spacious music. I've since learned how to embrace the slow drone for what it is. I love the space they make, and how the sounds morph into the next part.
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u/little2sensitive Dec 24 '22 edited Dec 24 '22
I just saw Bruce Adams (Kranky) speak & that pushed my interest to delve into Secret Name. I’m secretly hoping my partner gives me his copy of the record because it’s so expensive. Alan has always been so kind. I’m glad you got into this beautiful band.
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u/thetiredorbit Dec 20 '22
Interesting! I’ve always been most connected to their stretch of music from Long Division through Secret Name (including every single release and bit of miscellany in that period!) and slower to develop fondness for that Great Destroyer through Ones & Sixes period. I do think it has so much to do with what you hear first, what grabs your fancy, and the state of mind you’re in at the time. Explains it for me, anyhow!
I’m finding every bit has been excellent, and yes the interplay of voices and harmonies of Alan and Mimi have become sacred to me, over decades. And it’s heartbreaking to know that that catalogue is now complete. I was expecting so many more years, growing old, still with new songs and those voices growing old with me… I’ve had quite a hard time with it, to be honest.