Sara Lowes – Tomorrow’s Laughter
Tim at The Daily Growl tipped me off to this lovely little mini-album, a mere six songs long, but I had been well aware of Sara Lowes since her work with King Creosote and The Earlies. He has a fine ear for this sort of low-key indie pop stuff with plenty of folk in it and a laid back, evening-with-a-glass-of-wine vibe and this is another excellent discovery by the internet’s favourite ex-Weegie.
By evening music I don’t, as I often do, mean really downbeat. It’s definitely a pop record, and opener I Wish puts you in no doubt of that with a funky, old-fashioned, borderline-R’n'B rhythm. She switches pace quickly however, slipping down into a dreamy ballad that could easily have come out of one of the folkier Northern Soul records in the 70s. This broad span encapsulates the extremes of this album quite well actually. In parts Kate Bush (Down & Out), touches of old school folk, touches of the show tune and a hint of the more soft-focussed kind of jazz siren at times as well. There’s even a bloody 70s disco *pscheuw* sound in Down & Round, of all things.
Perhaps if Feist had been more obsessed with folk than pop she might have produced an album not dissimilar to this one. It’s full of flute, swoonsome harmonies and gentle rising strings. The overall mood of the thing may not be angry or miserable enough to be entirely my kind of music, but this is a really lovely little record.
Sara Lowes – Uniform Days
Glad ye like it. But what’s wrong with 70s disco? As the Weegies might say, ‘taps aff man’
It works well in context I have to say. But would you be at all surprised to know that in general it is not one of my favourite sounds?
Not at all. Of course! Though I was a bit misplaced in my comment though. Weegies dae taps aff to happy hardcore, not disco…
All fucking Greek to me to be honest.
Happy fucking hardcore.
I’m a big fan of Sara Lowes, particularly her fantastic contributions to Micah P Hinson’s brilliant first album. Worth a listen if you haven’t heard it yet…
But then I do have a soft spot for happy hardcore as well.
Oh was that her voice on there? Wonderful. I knew The Earlies were heavily involved in that record, but I didn’t realise she sang on it. It’s one of my favourite albums in the world that, as is Opera Circuit.
yes – one of the best gigs i’ve ever seen was MPH + Earlies supporting the Earlies at the Scala. Heartbreaking stuff when Sara and Micah did those desolate duets