Low — „HEY WHAT“(Sept. 10, 2021) ⊇ Velkolepá redefinice rockové hudby. Low pokračují v překvapování na svém třináctém albu HEY WHAT, živí se stejnou nabitou energií, díky které bylo album Double Negative tak působivé. V návaznosti na něj Mimi Parker a Alan Sparhawk vše tlačí hlouběji do abstrakce a nacházejí nové úhly pohledu na témata, která je od začátku oživují. ⊇ Soustředíme~li se na jejich řemeslo, zůstaneme stranou a pevně se držíme víry, abychom našli nové způsoby, jak vyjádřit nesouhlas a potěšení ze života a proměnit dualitu existence v hymny, o které se můžeme podělit. Těchto deset kusů — každý postavený na své vlastní okamžité, nepopiratelné přitažlivosti — je přeplňováno živými texturami, které je obklopují. Nevýslovné, známé harmonie Alana Sparhawka a Mimi Parker prorazí skrze chaos jakoby záchranným člunem. Vrstvy zkresleného zvuku narůstají s každým novým veršem — prostřednictvím budování, rozbíjení, kolosálností, vzápětí zdrženlivost, či umírněností, aby nakonec pouze zašeptal slavnostní slib. Bude čas rozluštit a přisoudit hudbě a umění této doby smysl a význam, ale kreativní okamžik má namířeno jít DOPŘEDU, se sebezapřením. •⊆⊇• Focusing on their craft, staying out of the fray, and holding fast their faith to find new ways to express the discord and delight of being alive, to turn the duality of existence into hymns we can share, Low present HEY WHAT. These ten pieces — each built around their own instantaneous, undeniable hook — are turbocharged by the vivid textures that surround them. The ineffable, familiar harmonies of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker break through the chaos like a life raft. Layers of distorted sound accrete with each new verse — building, breaking, colossal then restrained, a solemn vow only whispered. There will be time to unravel and attribute meaning to the music and art of these times, but the creative moment looks FORWARD, with teeth. •⊆⊇• HEY WHAT is Low’s thirteenth full~length release in twenty~seven years, and their third with producer BJ Burton. Location: Duluth, Minnesota Album release: Sept. 10, 2021 Record Label: Sub Pop Duration: 46:13 Tracks: 01. White Horses 5:04 02. I Can Wait 4:02 03. All Night 5:15 04. Disappearing 3:32 05. Hey 7:41 06. Days Like These 5:21 07. There’s a Comma After Still 1:52 08. Don’t Walk Away 4:07 09. More 2:11 10. The Price You Pay (It Must Be Wearing Off) 7:08 REVIEW Tony Inglis| 06 Sep 2021 | Score: ★★★★★ ⊇ Low’s last record, Double Negative, was filled with disintegrating and corroded music, songs that were haunted by evil spirits and unfinished business, consumed by tempests and fire. The melodies and voices — trapped under a cacophony of indecipherable instrumentation, as tracks leaked into one another — struggled to the surface and then died away. It was a left turn degradation of their melodic slowcore, and some of the most original music in ages. ⊇ HEY WHAT is a natural progression, feeding off the same charged energy. However, now the ghosts have escaped and are in chorus as clearly and piercingly as they can muster. The rumble that underlies these devotional — and sometimes doubting — hymns of faith now crackles into place rather than dissolving away. The static of opener White Horses snaps almost into a beat. When there’s percussion, it’s not just drums, but thunderous biblical crashing. When there’s electronics, it isn’t just guitars and synths — it’s the one clear transmission from another plane. It gives the record a brighter disposition than its predecessor (though darkness still looms ominously), even if it’s been put together with the same tools, whatever they are. ⊇ To be making music that can truly surprise you 13 albums and 28 years into a career is a testament to Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker’s continued dedication to their craft. ⊇ https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/low-hey-what By Andy Cush ⌊Sept. 10, 2021⌋ Score: 8.4 BEST NEW MUSIC ⊇ https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/low-hey-what/ BC: https://lowtheband.bandcamp.com/album/hey-what WEB: https://www.chairkickers.com/ MANAGEMENT: HOLLY NIXON
Low — „HEY WHAT“ (Sept. 10, 2021)
⊇ Velkolepá redefinice rockové hudby. Low pokračují v překvapování na svém třináctém albu HEY WHAT, živí se stejnou nabitou energií, díky které bylo album Double Negative tak působivé. V návaznosti na něj Mimi Parker a Alan Sparhawk vše tlačí hlouběji do abstrakce a nacházejí nové úhly pohledu na témata, která je od začátku oživují.
⊇ Soustředíme~li se na jejich řemeslo, zůstaneme stranou a pevně se držíme víry, abychom našli nové způsoby, jak vyjádřit nesouhlas a potěšení ze života a proměnit dualitu existence v hymny, o které se můžeme podělit. Těchto deset kusů — každý postavený na své vlastní okamžité, nepopiratelné přitažlivosti — je přeplňováno živými texturami, které je obklopují. Nevýslovné, známé harmonie Alana Sparhawka a Mimi Parker prorazí skrze chaos jakoby záchranným člunem. Vrstvy zkresleného zvuku narůstají s každým novým veršem — prostřednictvím budování, rozbíjení, kolosálností, vzápětí zdrženlivost, či umírněností, aby nakonec pouze zašeptal slavnostní slib. Bude čas rozluštit a přisoudit hudbě a umění této doby smysl a význam, ale kreativní okamžik má namířeno jít DOPŘEDU, se sebezapřením.
•⊆⊇• Focusing on their craft, staying out of the fray, and holding fast their faith to find new ways to express the discord and delight of being alive, to turn the duality of existence into hymns we can share, Low present HEY WHAT. These ten pieces — each built around their own instantaneous, undeniable hook — are turbocharged by the vivid textures that surround them. The ineffable, familiar harmonies of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker break through the chaos like a life raft. Layers of distorted sound accrete with each new verse — building, breaking, colossal then restrained, a solemn vow only whispered. There will be time to unravel and attribute meaning to the music and art of these times, but the creative moment looks FORWARD, with teeth.
•⊆⊇• HEY WHAT is Low’s thirteenth full~length release in twenty~seven years, and their third with producer BJ Burton.
Location: Duluth, Minnesota
Album release: Sept. 10, 2021
Record Label: Sub Pop
Duration: 46:13
Tracks:
01. White Horses 5:04
02. I Can Wait 4:02
03. All Night 5:15
04. Disappearing 3:32
05. Hey 7:41
06. Days Like These 5:21
07. There’s a Comma After Still 1:52
08. Don’t Walk Away 4:07
09. More 2:11
10. The Price You Pay (It Must Be Wearing Off) 7:08
REVIEW
Tony Inglis | 06 Sep 2021 | Score: ★★★★★
⊇ Low’s last record, Double Negative, was filled with disintegrating and corroded music, songs that were haunted by evil spirits and unfinished business, consumed by tempests and fire. The melodies and voices — trapped under a cacophony of indecipherable instrumentation, as tracks leaked into one another — struggled to the surface and then died away. It was a left turn degradation of their melodic slowcore, and some of the most original music in ages.
⊇ HEY WHAT is a natural progression, feeding off the same charged energy. However, now the ghosts have escaped and are in chorus as clearly and piercingly as they can muster. The rumble that underlies these devotional — and sometimes doubting — hymns of faith now crackles into place rather than dissolving away. The static of opener White Horses snaps almost into a beat. When there’s percussion, it’s not just drums, but thunderous biblical crashing. When there’s electronics, it isn’t just guitars and synths — it’s the one clear transmission from another plane. It gives the record a brighter disposition than its predecessor (though darkness still looms ominously), even if it’s been put together with the same tools, whatever they are.
⊇ To be making music that can truly surprise you 13 albums and 28 years into a career is a testament to Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker’s continued dedication to their craft.
⊇ https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/low-hey-what
By Andy Cush ⌊Sept. 10, 2021⌋ Score: 8.4 BEST NEW MUSIC
⊇ https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/low-hey-what/
BC: https://lowtheband.bandcamp.com/album/hey-what
WEB: https://www.chairkickers.com/
MANAGEMENT: HOLLY NIXON