Lowtide - Southern Mind

by Dave Goodwin

published: 15 / 4 / 2018

Label: Opposite Number
Format: CD

Stunning reverb-heavy dream pop/shoegaze on second album from Australian four-piece and now trio Lowtide

Review

Australian indie rock band Lowtide were formed in 2008 in Melbourne and currently consists of Lucy Buckeridge (bass, vocals), Gabriel Lewis (guitars) and Anton Jakovljevic (drums). They started life out as Three Month Sunset and renamed themselves Lowtide in 2010, releasing their debut EP, 'You are My Good Light', in July of that year. They then released the single, 'Underneath Tonight/Memory No. 7', in 2011 followed up by the release of their eponymous debut album in 2014. After releasing the single 'Julia/Spring', in 2015 to positive reviews from critics, the band have since signed to record labels Rice Is Nice and Opposite Number and now unleash their sophomore album, 'Southern Mind'. Lowtide themselves combine an expansive, reverb-heavy sound with hazy shared vocals. The original lead singer Giles Fielk is credited with joint vocals on with Buckeridge but left in 2017 just after the completion of this record. This album carries on from where their self-titled debut left off and is a collection of gorgeous, shimmering pop songs with Lucy and Giles' shared vocals floating over washes of reverb guitars. Musically, you could liken it to a sweeter, dreamier version of the Chameleons and Sisters of Mercy. It has also the jangled meandering sound of a lady-led Cure, blending upbeat dream pop with melancholy shoegaze and incorporating chiming guitars and compelling melodies. 'Southern Mind' has as its title suggests a theme in places and reflects on the south of their homeland, its topics including politics, landscapes and the current state of the country in general. They reflect on this theme in other ways as well tracks like 'Alibi' and 'Fault Lines' prove. Whilst the album is laden with some really good listening, 'Window', which weldss an early New Order type bassline together with dreamy vocals, is the standout for me. This is a glowing ember in an otherwise dull start to 2018, but there is one overhanging question. If one half of the soaring vocal team has left the band, following on from a great debut and this stonker of a second, what will we be treated to on the next offering?