Low Countries - A Prize Every Time

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 15 / 9 / 2014

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Review

After seven albums of melancholic indie-folk (mixed with a little indie-pop, shoegaze, country and even some torch ballads), Anglo-Flemish duo Nigel Parrington and Els D'hooge called time on their musical partnership in 2013, with Parrington commenting that he felt “all songed out”. They mark their passing with a 22 track compilation of the 'Greatest Bits' – their personal favourites alongside those songs that were played on the radio, or just picked up more attention than was typical for this under-the-radar pairing. This was my first encounter with the Low Countries' music, so it was rather a shame to find they have already packed it in. The compilation begins with the moody piano ballad, 'At The End of the Day', a mid-paced, wistful lament, complete with an unexpected high pitched refrain and coming to life as guitars ease themselves into the mix. It's the sort of thing Paddy McAloon filled up his mid-nineties albums with, and there is nothing wrong with that (although, sadly, comparisons to mid-period McAloon tend to be accompanied by that critic's curse, 'cult appeal') I assumed, then, that the rather silly indie-pop ditty that immediately follows, 'Brian Cox's Locks' - about everyone's favourite TV physicist – was an "'early one". In fact, they are both from the same period and album, 2011's 'Summer's Last Hurrah'. As a recipient of more than one too many well-meaning but not necessarily well executed aspiring indie-pop CDs, it was hard to be as excited about this second track. But the promise of the first kept me listening. Partington is at his best in the world-weary guise of a alt-rock ballad man. A song of farewell to his former home in Belgium ('Low Country'), complete with accordions and lightly plucked guitars, represents him at his best. He is never quite as convincing in indie-rock mode. It is, in fact, occasionally a bit frustrating to hear someone capable of dreaming up the excellent 'Wormwood Blues' - a great example of how a limited budget need not prevent bands from channelling their inner Pink Floyd – waste their time with the by-numbers indie of 'Gent!' In fact, even a cursory scroll through the Low Countries' bandcamp reveals there are plenty of songs more worthy of inclusion here – 'Sea of Stars' a great example, which expands from a piano and vocal pop song to an atmospheric post-prog instrumental. But, within the 22 tracks available here, a little judicious editing makes for a more than satisfactory afternoon's listening. A couple in the real world, as well as in music, the 'break up' album may tempt a new set of fans, and hopefully, thus, Partington back into songwriting. Partington's son has apparently predicted that his dad's songs will be famous after he dies. Pennyblackmusic readers would be advised not to wait that long. Meanwhile, if he does ever write songs again, perhaps Partington will forget everything he ever learned about Sarah Records, and concentrate on his moody side.

Track Listing:-

1 At the End of the Day
2 Brian Cox's Locks
3 The Weatherman
4 Putty
5 Don't Let It Be You
6 Handmaid's Blush
7 Summer's Last Hurrah
8 Paracetamol
9 Ache
10 A Friend Worth the Name
11 Wormwood Blues (feat. Ma
12 Long Story Short
13 Gent!
14 A Journey
15 Sun Street
16 Tell Her
17 Still Time
18 Saved
19 Hoor Je Mij?
20 Low Country
21 The Invisible Ray
22 Forever Comes

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/thelowcountri
http://thelowcountries.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/thelowcountries?la

Label Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/nubcountryrec
https://www.youtube.com/user/thepocket
https://twitter.com/NubCountry