LOW ISLAND 'If You Could Have It All Again'

Album review by Alan Neilson

What is interesting about my feelings towards Low Island, is that for each of their earlier single releases I was asked to review the songs, but never felt enough love for them until now, when I listened to the album in full.

And then it was ‘Hey Man’ the opening song on ‘If You Could Have It All Again’ that opened the door for me; it’s strange how indifference can turn to love by seeing something from a slightly different angle.

I think my initial reticence came from the band’s image and a feeling that this is just another group of young, white men from Oxford, who are not too dissimilar to that other band of white men from Oxford; with their falsettos, angular synths and raw, but tasteful guitars.

There is a whole, wider argument about representation in the music business, which I won’t go into here, but suffice to say my heart dies a little everyday when I keep getting asked to review another all male, all white band. Thankfully Low Island are doing something that is interesting enough that my prejudices have been put to one side.

I can’t think of another album where the first track is so different from the songs that follow. Thankfully that track ‘Hey man’ is of such originality and quality, it drew me into the music of Low Island, and although the songs that come after may not have been enough on their own to make me love their debut album at first, I listened to it through the experience of that opening track. It really is mesmerising, containing as it does a repeating note like Laurie Anderson’s ‘O Superman’ and frantic drums like late period Radiohead.

‘Hey man’ starts out sounding like Aqualung until the jagged drum rolls and single percussive hits crack open the sensitive shell of the song and reveal real gold. But just when you think it is going to start in an Elbow driving rhythmic style, the song ends and the temporary silence is followed by the pumping ‘What Do You Stand For’, which could not be more different, sounding as it does like a club track meeting Art Brut head on, with its markedly different vocal spoken/sung style against a pumping backbeat. Wickedly sharp lyrics and truly danceable beats show immediately the band are not a one trick pony.

‘Don’t Let the Light’ follows and again is like neither of the previous tracks, it has a foot in clubland, but a softer vocal and trance like vibe pulls it into a pop arena. The album‘s lack of a defining genre makes it almost lack a cohesiveness, but at the same time keeps the listener’s attention, even if it is just based on a feeling of what the hell are they gonna do next… and that next thing is a reprise of the previous track in ballad form; a prize for anyone who guessed that.

‘In Your Arms’ follows and features a stunning chord progression against another trance like groove, but this time with stunning ethereal backing vocals, complimenting the lead voice. The danceable rhythms and spiky synths continue through the next tracks, but there is a real humanity to the songs. The performances and production is practically perfect so you would be forgiven for believing this is all the work of robots, auto-tune and computer chips, but there is a beautiful soul to this music that reminds me of the stunning Broken Bells’ second album. Humans and machines can work together and Low Island balance the organic with the electronic exquisitely.

The album reminds me of when clubs had separate rooms for different music genres (do they still do that?). Each song has a different vibe to it and even on ‘Momentary’, which feels like the chill out room as the tempo drops and the voice softens, but then you hear drums coming through the wall, calling you back into the club. And then you are back in the dark sticky room, ‘Spaces Closing In’ eases you back in with its mid-paced tempo and rockier sound.

The final track ‘What the Hell (Are You Gonna Do Now?)’ again is in a different room, more withdrawn and indie and the spoken section at the end could almost be a conversation in the toilet before you walk home alone at the end of night, even down to the way the sentence is cut off before it finishes. The song does kind of close the album in an understated way rather than a blast of energy, but that is part of the album’s charm, providing unexpected turns and endings, jumping between genres, one moment gentle, the next forceful and brash.

Of course genre hopping is a double edged sword, particularly within the same album. I happen to love a contrast of styles by the same artist, but there are others who like a certain sound and want a band to be something tangible and remain constant, at least for eleven songs.

I understand Low Island are self-releasing ‘If You Could Have It All Again’ and that kind of tells a story of how a record label could not pigeonhole the band for the marketplace (or of course the band refused to be pigeonholed). But I do wonder if Low Island know who their target audience is: indie kids, club heads, or an older audience who recognise the artistry and references in the songs? This album could appeal to that whole cross section, but equally could end up alienating them all as well. I mean, what is Low Island?

The band asks the question in a roundabout way in their song, ‘What Do You Stand For’ and as John Mellencamp said, in the music industry as in life, “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.” In some ways Low Island are standing for something simply by being themselves, with all their contradictions, mistakes and conflicts, but still there is a slight loss in clarity in the signals they give out… in today’s music industry the package is more important than the contents, especially without a major label’s marketing budget. I only hope Low Island will reach glorious heights.

Released April 2021, the album is available now via the band’s own Emotional Interference imprint, through their official outlet:

1.Hey man
2. What Do You Stand For
3. Don't Let The Light In
4. Don't Let The Light In (Reprise)
5. In Your Arms
6. Who's Having The Greatest Time?
7. Feel Young Again
8. I Do It For You
9. Momentary
10. Spaces Closing In
11. What The Hell (are you gonna do now?)

Bachelor - 'Anything At All' (Latest single)

Bachelor - ‘Anything At All’

Single review by Alan Neilson

Bachelor is Jay Som and Palehound’s new joint project, and their first song ‘Anything At All’ is out now and it is stunning. Blessed with an almost perfect groove from a deceptively simple opening bass and drum combo, the song slowly develops adding synths and vocals until it practically bursts from your speakers with a dirty lead guitar break.

Just when you think it is going to follow convention and do the repeat chorus and groove to the end, they instead go for a maelstrom of guitar feedback and synth noise, which just when you think it is fading gets louder and louder.

And then when you think the song has finished the bass and drum groove returns but cut back more than when it came in… and then when you don’t expect it to finish, it does. Boom.

The first time I heard this I was mesmerised from start to finish and found its twists and turns and individuality captivating. The contrast between the funky groove, the beautifully filthy overdriven guitars and the angelic vocals is beguiling and the partnership of Melina Duterte and Ellen Kemper is already a perfect match.

The only negative is the artwork for the single. When you look at Jay Som and Palehound’s previous releases, there is a sense of style, whereas as the ‘Anything At All’ cover looks like the first image you’d get with a inserting random images and text into a Word document. As this image is the first thing potential listeners see before hearing the magic behind it, I fear it might not grab their attention. But those who pass will be missing out big time.

I am so excited to hear what they release next.

Bachelor’s single ‘Anything At All’ is out now from all download stores.

Sam Asbury

‘Show Me The Best Thing You Can Do’.

Sam Asbury’s second solo EP is out now, with proceeds going to Mind the mental health charity. Reviewed by Keira Cullinane

Among notifications I got from Bandcamp Friday (5th February), this one stood out. Perhaps surprisingly, because before its brief announcement earlier that week there had been no publicity - usually a risky publicity stunt, but we're reassured: “It's just that Sam is bad at business.”

After Long Teeth and new band Big Sea Creature, Sam has released a second solo EP. With the first, ‘Bored In A Beautiful Place’, the lyrics really stood out for me and this is again something I love in ‘Show Me The Best Thing You Can Do’.

The EP cover is perfect for the mood of the songs and the last year too. The sun streaking in through a restricted window, showing a fantastic day - outside. "Baby it's like how it was, but it's how it's become, Sunbathing on the steps cos the beach is shut" sung with a slight accent that seems to emphasise the normalness of this slight disappointment.

Harmonies throughout the EP are impressive (with I suspect occasional vocals from Big Sea Creature bassist Jade) remind me a little of the chilled warmth of The Velvet Underground and Nico and the 60's, combined with an uneasy, socially aware commentary that feels bitter. However unless you're listening to the lyrics you might feel upbeat by the tunes, and as I think this, Sam sings, "Don't talk to me until I'm listening".

This, mixed with the lyrics of 'Bent Back Mud Men Monster'. feels like whistling in the park, content with trying to forget what you're really thinking about. "Yeah the lights okay, but I think we're better in the dark anyway".

All this to say, it's not a sad EP and there is a depth and intelligence to the contradictions in music and lyrics. You'll go about your flat happily humming ‘Bent Back Mud Men Monster’ to your cat.

On third track 'Wet Hair', layers of guitar, harmonies and trumpet - played by Sam - feel a lot like the end of a day spent feeling slightly out of place, coming home to someone you feel safe with. The anxiety you might feel perhaps, having someone ask you to 'Show Me The Best Thing You Can Do'; before helping you relax while listening to it.

All proceeds will go to the Mind charity. www.mind.org.uk