- Shoegaze, atmos-pop, dream-rock – whatever your genre label of choice, it is guaranteed you will be set adrift to float on a billowing ocean of swirling saturating sound if you dive into the newest album from Melbourne outfit Lowtide.
Performing under that name since 2010, Southern Mind is the second full length album from the dual-vocalled four-piece band. The recording builds nicely over the nine tracks. The slow wafting reverb-heavy title track opens proceedings with a feeling a bit like the gradual awakening from a pleasant dream. From here we go into the jangly guitar pop of Alibi, the first single from the album. From there things proceed into a range of heavily textured offerings with varying degrees of intensity. The second single, AC, is perhaps the best example on the album of the vocal interplay between bass player Lucy Bukeridge and male vocalist Giles Simon, who left the band not long after recording for the album concluded.
The intertwining of female and male vocals works a treat, with the singing somewhat higher in the mix than many shoegaze outfits. So much so it’s even possible to discern the lyrics in most songs, which adds something extra for your consciousness to engage with as it proceeds on its sonic journey.
I’m not an expert on guitar effects, but whatever ones there are out there, Lowtide guitarist Gabriel Lewis seems to use them – fuzz, delay, lots and lots of reverb – naturally – and no doubt plenty of others. And the effect of all those effects is something pretty magical, especially once it is coupled with the drum and bass patterns (and effects) that are essential to any good shoegaze sound.
The song I most like is one near the end of the album. Entitled Window, the bass on this one reminds me of some of New Order’s better tunes, while for some reason I found the vocals reminiscent of the old ‘80’s chestnut Life In A Northern Town. Despite, or perhaps because of all this, it all comes together into a majestic and surprisingly upbeat tune. But there are plenty of other strong contenders on Southern Mind. Lowtide will be doing a national tour in support of the album in March and April, so catch up with them and decide for yourself.
- Andrew Bartlett.