Endless Bummer
Telegraph Hill, 2019
9/10
An outfit born out of the Asbury Park scene who already made me a fan with 2018’s Born To Run, Lowlight deliver a unique formula where Americana and roots rock collide with New Wave and synth-friendly experimentalism.
“Give It A Minute” starts the disc with a haze of synth, as subtle country nods make their way into the rhythmic opener, and “Horsefoot” follows with a percussively heavy, pop friendly tune that’s hard to classify but easy to enjoy.
Other highlights from Side A include the moody “Burkhalter”, where a lush setting pushes and pulls with warm tension, while “Clotheslines” offers acoustic guitars and inimitable vocals in the adventurous and memorable highlight.
The remainder of the album doesn’t disappoint either, with the shimmering and summery rock of “Coastlines”, and “Locals Only”, a late standout track, glides with gorgeous instrumentation that builds into an ebullient mashing of proficient musicianship. “Voyager” ends the listen with keys, a group vocal effort and marching band percussion that flows with a gospel feel, adding yet another avenue to Lowlight’s inventive prowess.
An extremely enjoyable listen with a self-deprecating title, Endless Bummer is actually a glorious affair, where twang meets synth in delightful ways that impress and reassure that indie-rock still has plenty of creativeness left.
Travels well with: Sharon Van Etten- Remind Me Tomorrow; The War On Drugs- A Deeper Understanding