Portrait of the Artist

Low

No band could last for over ten years without changing, but Low seems dedicated to evolving as gradually and minimally as possible. Ceratinly, last year's The Great Destroyer sounds different than their 1994 debut I Could Live in Hope, but the changes have come about over a long peroid of time and are primarily aesthetic. There are a few overdubs on the new record, and some faster tempos. But as far as songs go, Low is still primarily sticking to their original game plan - creating slow, minimalistic songs centered around the gorgeous harmonizing of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker. They once described their own sound as "a cross between Joy Division and Simon and Garfunkel."
But rather than making their work seem redundant or formulaic, this reliability has only served to set Low further apart from other bands. On the surface, their songs might all sound the same, but none of them sound quite like anything else. They have created their own sonic landscape, and within it there is the possibility for infinite (if subtle) variation.
As far as I can tell, Sparhawk has his electric guitar in open-G tuning for every song Low has ever recorded. Mimi Parker plays simple concert band-style drum parts while she sings. Bassist Zak Sally recently left the band to talk about how much he loves Tool, but he is present on even their most recent album and provides a consistent, occasionally melodic undertow.
In a way, Low's career has been an ongoing exploration of what can be achieved within a set of limitations. The result of their slow tempos is that every word feels deliberate, and their songs connect on an entirely unique level. Still, they have every capability of composing memorable melodies, and this just makes the aching beauty that they squeeze out of their songs hit that much harder.
This song is from their 2001 album Things We Lost in the Fire, which in my opinion is their best. It's a beacon of simplicity, perfect for those days when everything seems too complicated and you don't know if you even feel like listening to music. This won't get in your way. There isn't so much as a superfluous breath.

MP3: Closer

Buy Things We Lost in the Fire

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