THE LOW ANTHEM – OH MY GOD, CHARLIE DARWIN
As this album begins, it is startling how similar these guys sound, in musical flavour and lyrical bent, to Canadian alt-folk heroes Great Lakes Swimmers. A compliment to be sure – for as soon as the weepy guitars and fractured, angelic vocals introduce the theme of the record with Charlie Darwin, we know we’re in for a bit of a trip. This is the third full-lengther from this Rhode Island trio, and it is an assured statement in folk balladeering and ragged roots rock. As the record plays out, it begins to feel like a bit of an American songbook – you can hear shades of Welch/Rawlings, Canadian spook-folk a la Low, and just a few moments of gravel-voiced Tom Waits-esque ramblings. Perhaps where these guys succeed the most is in their antiquated approach to their slower numbers – trickling background noise infiltrates some truly lovely analog recordings, and Ben Knox Miller’s truly dexterous voice is at its most beautiful in the harmonium-soaked To Ohio, and the rainy, Bad Seeds-y Cage The Songbird. These are quality songs, quality performances and are boosted by just enough weird production moments to keep things above the level of the pleasant; it’s a filmic and fascinating listen.
****
