LOW
Trust (Kranky)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry

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Previously referred to as "the heaviest band in rock," one might (erroneously) predict that the guitars opening "Diamond" are playing tangled barre chords with raging dual kick drums, grinding bass, and a singer imitating Tom Waits, or his uncle with the scissors down his throat. Here is a band that easily disproves the concept that "weighty" or "big" is ever really down to the amount of distorted guitar tracks on a single number, and shows, again, the overall sensation of the songs within-the weight of what they can get across, easily, within ten seconds. This puts them in league with anyone who claims to be "colossal" today. In my estimation, Low are sitting at the peak of it all, and gazing with shrewd smiles at their "colleagues" below. It's likely though that they've never even thought about it.

Trust opens with a single, earthy, bottom-heavy bass drum thud, quite like Black Heart Procession's on "A Light So Dim." What follows could be considered "sludgy pop music," only that's an attempt at simplifying Low's sound into an easily pegged category. They're beyond all that, thanks. Low's minimalism is really breathing space. Their songs all seem to be alive, and would likely sound horrible were they awash in the Hollywood veneer of those who will remain nameless. Quite a lot of Trust is actually fairly lo-fi-real sounding.

This one's being released as a double LP or single CD, and they appear to have spent lots and lots of time acquiring the tones. If you have a turntable, unlike myself, you'd be best served listening to it on one. The warmth inherent in the tracks is undoubtedly four-dimensional there.

"Point of Disgust" (3:26) helps to circumscribe the trio's simplicity, and somehow feels like their shortest number. "I Am The Lamb" ends with the sound of a steel pipe bashing up against the locked door of a submarine. Poignant. It ended, so I ran it back. It ended again. "In The Drugs" (my favorite so far) opens with the sound of hands sliding down the neck of a guitar, and snatches of banjo dip beneath the surface.

"I held my breath. What could I say? And I closed my eyes like Marvin Gaye."

I'm going out and buying anything else I can find by Low straight away. Do you require a more coherent recommendation?

© 2002 - Jason Thornberry