Lowgold - Promise Lands

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 5 / 4 / 2008

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Review

Hotly tipped a few years back, Lowgold. You may even remember them, but every band seems to be hotly tipped by someone, so maybe not. They didn't get the fame some people thought they might with their debut album, 'Just Backward of Square' in 2000, as other similar bands raked up the sales. Then Nude went bust, and since them they've been a small scale indie band. It is a decade since they recorded that first album, and they've been no strangers to debt. Financial problems at Nude saw them facing off debt on several occasions, and the fact that this album exists at all is a victory in itself. Compared generally to Coldplay and Doves, the band operate in a similar field of slightly dreamy, epic ballads. But I would probably say they have more in common with Grandaddy and Mercury Rev, as atmosphere tends to be the focus of their music, rather than huge choruses. It is their big chorus moment, however, that is the standout track here. 'Don't Let Love In' is the kind of swooping ballad British bands do well, but I never get tired of it, and this is one to stick next to the Verve, Embrace etc etc. There are some other standouts, and the opening track 'Clear' particularly benefits from swooping strings and an intricate arrangement. Track by track, its hard to find anything wrong. I've heard, however, better albums. 'Promise Lands' is fairly one paced and making it through in one sitting takes a bit of determination. Furthermore, its hard to avoid the impression that Lowgold are doing something fairly well that other bands have done with real distinction. I wouldn't say 'Promise Lands' is in any way a bad record, but its hard to find a compelling reason why somebody that didn't already know the band should buy this rather than the, say, the new Elbow album.

Track Listing:-

1 Clear
2 Burning Embers
3 Just Like Skin
4 Don't Let Love In
5 Flame
6 When The Song Is Over
7 Dead Sea
8 Nothing Stays The Same
9 Farmer's Tale
10 Hope & Reason