Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love - Ends of June Review
by Patrick Muldowney
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The same self who finds The Byrds beautiful, brilliant and soothing, truly appreciates Ends of June. The sound is wholesome, communal, and natural; it achieves exactly what hippie music consistently promises yet fails to deliver. You can't help listening to the 9 Ls without feeling like the 8th member. The chorus of voices (at least 3) are so inviting, it's difficult to listen without joining.
Classified as folk music, Low Low Low… is not as flat and predictable as many of the acts found in this genre. Rather than music ruled by acoustic guitar and voice, Ends of June generously features percussion, electric guitar and banjo consistently, while picking moments for horns, harmonica, and xylophone. One of the best tracks, "Goodnight Louisa", is evidence of how unique the 9 Ls can sound. Beginning with a darker tone as the guitar plays the opening riff on the low E string, the xylophone kicks in with the foreboding gentility of a wind chime that runs in and out of a mostly simple 4/4 beat played on snare and ride. The vocals trim down to two voices for most of this song, and the melody is the catch, as each line delivers enough language for most rockers entire verse. Finally, the emotion-laden track slows into a dirge over its last moments, with a chorus of Louisas and horns leading the way.
The best songs on Ends of June (listed below) have so much going on musically (vocals included as an instrument for a band with this style), it may take numerous listens to pick up the exact purpose of the lyrics or appreciate all the sounds that make up each song. It logically follows from this that Ends of June will become a better disc with every listen. Low Low Low… is one of the few bands creating music today that doesn't immediately bring to mind what others are already doing, so treasure this gem.
Tracks added to iPod: The way you play, Mayfly, Black Black Window, Goodnight Louisa, Ends of June
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Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love - Ends of June
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