Lowgold – Promise Lands

• 29th Mar 2008

Back in 2000 British music was at a post-rock crossroads and there was a gap in the market for a section entitled ‘melodic rock’. A few contenders threw their respective hats in the ring including: Coldplay, Travis, Doves, Elbow and the focus of this review – Lowgold. Lowgold’s 2000 debut ‘Just Backward Of Square’ was hailed and praised as a potential breakthrough into the market. The lo-fi scruffy sound and Sebadoh-esque bass produced excellent singles ‘Mercury’ and ‘Beauty Dies Young’ alongside a raft of other exceptional songs in what was a hardy and variety laden bow.

So 8 years on, Coldplay are huge and Lowgold are back in from the cold (sorry) with their 4th album entitled ‘Promise Lands’ with ten tracks for Joe Public to slobber over.

So how does it fair? Well the band havent strayed from their chilled and laidback template, in fact it seems they have regressed into MOR territory. The tattered and untidy musical style of their debut (apologies on banging on about ‘JBOS’)which made them so loveable is nowhere to be seen, having been replaced by a malestrom of tedium. It could be due to a new approach to cracking the market but personally their lack of ‘rocking out’ & ‘hooks’ has a detirmental effect if they are looking to shift some units.

There is no doubt that Darren Ford has a decent enough voice but the lack of inspiration musically continually frustrates me throughout.

New Single ‘Burning Embers’ is earnest and polite but is just missing some edge to be a hit. ‘Just like skins’ threatens and is the highlight in a dearth of quality songs.

Maybe I’m just pining for the Lowgold of old or for them to have taken a new and bold musical direction.

Disappointing