Two years on from the release of Low's excellent The Invisible Way LP, the Minnesota slowcore pioneers have announced their return. The group's 11th studio full-length is called Ones and Sixes, and longtime label Sub Pop puts it in stores on September 11.
A press release notes that the 12-song album was tracked by the band and engineer BJ Burton at Justin Vernon's April Base Studios in Eau Claire, WI. Low's Alan Sparhawk explained in a statement that the album was made after he and Burton produced a record for Trampled by Turtles. The pair had a "similar curiosity about the possibilities for Low" and decided to book time in the studio.
Of the recording sessions, Sparhawk explained that the band "tracked under the soft glow of laser discs playing lost classics like Point Break and Speed." While he didn't deliver any details about the themes of the record, he noted that the band were caught up in the moment and by their new surroundings.
"It's hard to admit that one is so influenced by what is in front of us," he said. "Doesn't it come from something magical and far away? No, it comes from here. It comes from now. I'm not going to tell you what this record is about because I have too much respect for that moment when you come to know it for yourself."
In addition to the contributions from the core of guitarist/vocalist Sparhawk, drummer/vocalist Mimi Parker and bassist Steve Garrington, the sessions had Wilco wiz Glen Kotche laying down percussion on a few tracks.
Down below, you'll find the tracklisting to Ones and Sixes, as well as a stream of the hear the album's "No Comprende." There, you'll also find a hefty chunk of tour dates that keep the band busy between June and November. The trip hits parts of China, the U.S., Europe and Canada.
Ones and Sixes:
1. Gentle
2. No Comprende
3. Spanish Translation
4. Congregation
5. No End
6. Into You
7. What Part of Me
8. The Innocents
9. Kid in the Corner
10. Lies
11. Landslide
12. DJ
Tour dates:
06/30 Guang Zhou, CN - TU Space
07/01 Shenzen, CN - B10 Live House
07/03 Beijing, CN - YuGong Yishan
07/04 Shanghai, CN - Qian Shui Wan Cultural Centre
07/17-18 Eau Claire, WI - Eaux Claires Festival
09/03 Bergen, NO - Perfect Sounds Forever Fest
09/04-06 Wiltshire, UK - End of the Road Festival
09/04-06 Stradbally, IE - Electric Picnic
09/18 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon*
09/19 Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall*
09/21 Toronto, ON - The Mod Club*
09/22 Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz PDB*
09/23 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall*
09/24 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
09/25 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's*
09/26 Washington, DC - Black Cat*
10/07 Manchester, UK - Cathedral ^
10/08 Glasgow, UK - Art School
10/10 London, UK - Roundhouse ^
10/12 Koln, DE - Gebaude 9
10/13 Hamburg, DE - Knust
10/14 Copenhagen, DK - Vega
10/15 Stockholm, SE - Kagelbanan
10/17 Berlin, DE - Lido
10/19 Munich, DE - Ampere
10/20 Bologna, IT - Teatro Antoniano
10/22 Zaragoza, ES - Las Armas
10/23 Barcelona, ES - Bikini
10/24 Valencia, ES - Centro Cultural La Rambleta (Deleste Festival)
10/26 Madrid, ES - Teatro Lara
10/27 Santander, ES - Escenario
10/29 Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso ^
10/31 Brussels, BE - AB
11/11 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue*
11/13 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge*
11/14 Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex*
11/16 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour*
11/18 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall*
11/20 Portland, OR - Doug Fir*
11/21 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile*
* with Andy Shauf
^ with Two Gallants
A press release notes that the 12-song album was tracked by the band and engineer BJ Burton at Justin Vernon's April Base Studios in Eau Claire, WI. Low's Alan Sparhawk explained in a statement that the album was made after he and Burton produced a record for Trampled by Turtles. The pair had a "similar curiosity about the possibilities for Low" and decided to book time in the studio.
Of the recording sessions, Sparhawk explained that the band "tracked under the soft glow of laser discs playing lost classics like Point Break and Speed." While he didn't deliver any details about the themes of the record, he noted that the band were caught up in the moment and by their new surroundings.
"It's hard to admit that one is so influenced by what is in front of us," he said. "Doesn't it come from something magical and far away? No, it comes from here. It comes from now. I'm not going to tell you what this record is about because I have too much respect for that moment when you come to know it for yourself."
In addition to the contributions from the core of guitarist/vocalist Sparhawk, drummer/vocalist Mimi Parker and bassist Steve Garrington, the sessions had Wilco wiz Glen Kotche laying down percussion on a few tracks.
Down below, you'll find the tracklisting to Ones and Sixes, as well as a stream of the hear the album's "No Comprende." There, you'll also find a hefty chunk of tour dates that keep the band busy between June and November. The trip hits parts of China, the U.S., Europe and Canada.
Ones and Sixes:
1. Gentle
2. No Comprende
3. Spanish Translation
4. Congregation
5. No End
6. Into You
7. What Part of Me
8. The Innocents
9. Kid in the Corner
10. Lies
11. Landslide
12. DJ
Tour dates:
06/30 Guang Zhou, CN - TU Space
07/01 Shenzen, CN - B10 Live House
07/03 Beijing, CN - YuGong Yishan
07/04 Shanghai, CN - Qian Shui Wan Cultural Centre
07/17-18 Eau Claire, WI - Eaux Claires Festival
09/03 Bergen, NO - Perfect Sounds Forever Fest
09/04-06 Wiltshire, UK - End of the Road Festival
09/04-06 Stradbally, IE - Electric Picnic
09/18 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon*
09/19 Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall*
09/21 Toronto, ON - The Mod Club*
09/22 Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz PDB*
09/23 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall*
09/24 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
09/25 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's*
09/26 Washington, DC - Black Cat*
10/07 Manchester, UK - Cathedral ^
10/08 Glasgow, UK - Art School
10/10 London, UK - Roundhouse ^
10/12 Koln, DE - Gebaude 9
10/13 Hamburg, DE - Knust
10/14 Copenhagen, DK - Vega
10/15 Stockholm, SE - Kagelbanan
10/17 Berlin, DE - Lido
10/19 Munich, DE - Ampere
10/20 Bologna, IT - Teatro Antoniano
10/22 Zaragoza, ES - Las Armas
10/23 Barcelona, ES - Bikini
10/24 Valencia, ES - Centro Cultural La Rambleta (Deleste Festival)
10/26 Madrid, ES - Teatro Lara
10/27 Santander, ES - Escenario
10/29 Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso ^
10/31 Brussels, BE - AB
11/11 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue*
11/13 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge*
11/14 Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex*
11/16 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour*
11/18 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall*
11/20 Portland, OR - Doug Fir*
11/21 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile*
* with Andy Shauf
^ with Two Gallants
