Rough Guide Vol.4 Low
Posted In: Alan Sparhawk, Fluid Radio, Low, Machinefabriek, Rough Guide Series, Rough Guide Vol.4, Rough Guide Vol.4 - Low, Rutger Zuydervelt
Comments: 2 Responses
Ok, it was my own choice to make this ‘Rough Guide’ about Low. But where to begin? It’s almost an impossible task to make an ‘acurate’ overview of Low’s carreer, within a timespan of 90 minutes, without excluding a great ammount of brilliant tunes. So, you won’t find anything from their great debut ‘I Could Live in Hope’, their ‘Transmission’ EP or their ‘Paris ’99′ live album here. Still, this un-chronologically mixed set gives a nice hint of the musical directions Low went on in their carreer. From the extreme minimalism of the first years, to the eclectic dub-infused experimentalism (for them, that is) of their latest album ‘Drums and Guns’. And I did include two short parts from Alan’s ‘Solo Guitar’ album, which blended in nicely…
The first time I heard Low was after buying the before mentioned ‘I Could Live in Hope’. I found it for a bargain price at Electric Fetus, in Minneapolis, where I was for a holiday. I liked the sleeve, and had read their name in some articles, so it was worth the try, I’d thought. And it was indeed. From there on, I developed a great love (or better, an addiction) to their music.
From the beginning, I was struck by Low’s ability to make extremely minimalistic music, but with great emotional impact. This was actually harder hitting then most of the death metal I used to listen to from years earlier. And so much more earnest. The real deal.
I practically saw them perform each time they visited the Netherlands (mostly in Paradiso, Amsterdam, a former church), and everytime it was amazing. Well okay, to be honest, the first two gigs I saw were the best, but still, there are not many bands that can create such an intense and yet intimate experience as Low. It’s mesmerizing.
Over the years they became less minimal and heavier. Maybe this has to do with Alan Sparhawk’s drug-problems and his struggle with his religion, but the beauty in the music gets more and more accompanied by anger, as it seems to me. It’s as if whilst being a believer, he at the same time questions religion. On one of the latest tours, Alan seemed a bit lost on stage. Talking weird, not being focussed. A friend of mine even saw a gig where he threw his guitar into the audience… not a very Christian thing to do, is it?
Also, the production values of their records developed. The first two albums (‘I Could Live in Hope’ and ‘Long Division’) were sober and to the point, the third one (‘Songs for a Dead Pilot’) a lot more ‘ambientesque’, than on ‘Secret Name’ and ‘Things We Lost in the Fire’ they incorporated other instruments like strings and trumpet in the mix. Dave Fridman (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev) produced their last two albums, resulting in the most experimental Low tracks thusfar. Weird panning effects, alien echoes, drummachines, all things that seemed unthinkable at first. Starting as an act with a sound that seemed to be culled from dogma rules, they now transformed into an act where practically everything is possible.
Having written this down, it strikes me how boring this actually is to read, compared to listening to the beautiful music… So here you go…
- Rutger Zuydervelt
Track List:
1 (0:00)
That’s How You Sing Amazing Grace
from the album ‘Trust’ (2002)
2 (7:00)
Because You Stood Still
from the boxset ‘A Lifetime of Temporary Relief’ (2004)
3 (12:27)
Starfire
from the album ‘Secret Name’ (1999)
4 (15:10)
Don’t Understand
from the album ‘Secret Name’ (1999)
5 (21:42)
Sagrado Corazon
from the album ‘Solo Guitar’ (2006) by Alan Sparhawk
6 (22:47)
Shame
from the album ‘Long Division’ (1995)
7 (26:40)
Will the Night
from the album ‘Secret Name’ (1999)
8 (28:57)
Venus (live)
from the album ‘One More Reason to Forget’ (2000)
9 (32:51)
So Easy (So Far)
from the ‘Bombscare EP’ with Spring Heel Jack (2000)
10 (36:27)
Sunflower
from the album ‘Things We Lost in the Fire’ (2003)
11 (40:47)
Landlord
from the album ‘Songs for a Dead Pilot’ (1997)
12 (47:02)
How it Ends
from the album ‘Solo Guitar’ (2006) by Alan Sparhawk
13 (47:55)
Lust
from the album ‘The Curtain Hits the Cast’ (1996)
14 (51:53)
Take Your Time
from the album ‘Drums and Guns’ (2007)
15 (55:56)
One Special Gift
from the EP ‘Christmas’ (1999)
16 (57:43)
Like a Forrest
from the album ‘Things We Lost in the Fire’ (2003)
17 (60:04)
If You Were Born Today
from the EP ‘Christmas’ (1999)
18 (64:27)
Dragonfly
from the album ‘Drums and Guns’ (2007)
19 (67:54)
Monkey (Fog Remix)
from the EP ‘Tonight the Monkey Dies’ (2006)
20 (72:35)
Over the Ocean
from the album ‘The Curtain Hits the Cast’ (1996)
21 (76:15)
Death of a Salesman
from the album ‘The Great Destroyer’ (2004)
22 (78:40)
John Prine
from the album ‘Trust’ (2002)
Compiled and mixed by Rutger Zuydervelt for Fluid Radio
damn you Rutger! I wanted to do the Low mix
Nice mix. I first heard Low when they played at the Dingo Bar in Albuquerque, New Mexico (1995?). We had just dropped in for a drink and weren’t paying attention to the bands…but we were all struck silent by Low after a few songs. I’ve have now seen them more times than any other artist. As great as their records are…it is really as a live band that they shine. Best show was in Oct. 2001 at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC with Michael Gira. Cathartic.