Low - 'Trust' (Rough Trade)
4/5
By: Toby L
Never ones to cause a commotion, Low have always been, to say the least, a most downbeat of acts. Harnessing the rare ability of mixing up chugging guitars amidst deeply reverberating bass and plaintive, angelic vocals, the three-piece are still able to keep the end-result at a volume only just about audible. Yet, with their latest work to date, 'Trust' - as worked on with Tchad Blake of Tom Waits notoriety - a previously-unknown up-tempo spikiness rears its head for the first time.
Such a progression follows an already flourishing time in music - which has, release-wise, included a series of critically-acclaimed singles and limited-edition odds 'n' ends, namely comprising 2001's compelling 'Things We Lost In The Fire' album, a Christmas-LP, and a recent reworking of The Smiths' devastatingly mournful 'Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me'. Evidently, at such a stage in their career, especially when considered alongside the band's worldwide reputation and accessibility to selling out thousand-seater theatres, a change of formula would seemingly be the last thing needed to further invigorate their career.
But, let's not get too carried away. Essentially, a change of direction in this case means one particularly jaunty tune, in the shape of 'Canada'. Featuring Alan Sparhawk's unashamedly-US croak, a drum-pattern last seen flaunting itself within The Strokes' 'Modern Age', and a helplessly infectious bass-line, you'll find yourself contemplating just what kind of substances Low have taken in order to get themselves so deliriously High.
However, as with such narcotics, the effect lasts for too soon. The advancing 'Candy Girl' is as broodingly eerie as anything else within the band's repertoire: the pounding drums, all-too soothing vocals and clanging guitar serving as a truly intoxicating listen. The motion-picture grandeur that greets the opening of 'Tonight' is just as epic, the ensuing notes almost paralleling Radiohead's more aloof moments, with Mimi Parker's dynamic vocal-lilt hooking you through to its ease-out ending. Such a dazzlingly breath-taking, albeit low-key, effect is pretty much existent throughout the entire works, the utter darkness of 'The Lamb', chilling folk of 'In The Drugs' and deceptively cheery 'La La La Song' proving as strong as anything already within the ole' back-catalogue.
So, although the reflective, understated threesome may not still overtly nor consistently partake within stirring the aforementioned commotion, even after all these years, they still establish that they're more than capable of allowing us listeners to arise our own one over them. And, suitable to their latest outing, trust them to stay the same.
Artists in this article: Low, Low vs Diamond, Lowfive, Lowgold
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