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Album Review

The Low Anthem
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin Bella Union

Article written by Ged M - Jun 30, 2009

The Low Anthem: Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

It was Bon Iver breaking last year, followed by Fleet Foxes, and now The Low Anthem might be the next of the folk-inspired indie crowd to capture the hearts of the festival crowds. All the influences seem classic, from Neil Young and Dylan (the snarling ‘Champion Angel’ is the loudest and spikiest song here) to a Tom Waits’ growl on ‘The Horizon is a Beltway’. Recorded in a cabin, the Rhode Island multi-instrumentalists sketch a vision of historic America, from the creaking atmospherics and dreamy poetry of Mayflower-referencing ‘Charlie Darwin’ to the cover of ‘Home I’ll Never Be’, a hobo’s travelogue by Tom Waits with lyrics by Kerouac, and the secular Southern Gospel of ‘OMGCD’.

The Waits impressions sit a little uneasily with the delicate folky touches elsewhere so I’d put this a place or two behind Bon Iver, if you’re comparing. But it has some first class songs: the whispery and redemptive ‘Ticket Taker’ and the harmony-strewn ‘To Ohio’, about premature bereavement, both have a gorgeous sense of doomy romanticism. There’s something classic and classy about them (the band released the album in hand cut and silkscreen printed sleeves before Bella Union picked it up), making a really satisfying dip into American history and culture, guided by a spirit of independence.

Links:
http://www.bellaunion.com/artist.php?artcode=thelowanthem
http://www.myspace.com/lowanthem

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