Time now for music from the (softer) edge of americana that I generally tend to ignore. This genre or sub-genre is exemplified by acoustic instruments, there is usually a fiddle in there if not a mandolin, or even a Dobro if you're lucky. The songs are typically harmony based with the backing vocals almost as important as lead vocals. Why I don't listen to a lot of this music I'm not sure. I think like anything, you have to be in the mood for these sort of songs and that mood doesn't come to me frequently. As well as that I blame some exponents of this genre for putting me off listening to others in it. I'm not naming names! The people who don't like this sort of music often label it boring and in a way you can see where their coming from. But if you think about it, arranging songs like those of LOWmountain is probably more difficult than having a five piece band. Having the ability to stimulate interest in this music when all you're listening to is an acoustic guitar and voices requires definite skill and craftsmanship.
The songs of LOWmountain typify what I'm talking about. Simply choreographed songs about love, loss and the like. The band is fairly popular at the moment what with having done Other Voices last year. Their songs as I said are typical of the genre: harmonies, soft guitars and lyrics of heartache.
"Near her Heart" is a loving tale of the LDR (that's long distance relationship in pre-acronym txt speak) based I'm guessing, in a time before the term was invented. The song talks of travelling on trains and rainy nights and the protagonist wishing he was back beside her. Nowadays it would all be about ryanair queues and poor Wifi connections.
"Captive Blue" is the other song I picked out. Again a gentle number that structure exemplifies about what I mentioned earlier in how to do this type of music well.
I believe nearly all of their tracks are on soundcloud to stream. Don't forget to like them on Facebook (but only if you want to).
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