MP3: Lower Dens – “Tea Lights”
MP3: Lower Dens – “Hospice Gates”
Swarming guitar fuzz, bass waves, Jana Hunter’s voice, and insistent drum throbs are the core components of Baltimore’s Lower Dens. Hunter, sometimes known for intimate, ghost-heavy weird-fi, is now writing and playing with a group that might get filed as new wave, or drone pop, or post-punk. With due deference to her solo work, we’re very glad.
The swarming wave-throb, coupled with Hunter’s lyrics and redolent, charred voice, wrecks. The band’s upcoming record, Twin-Hand Movement, is eleven perfect songs long. From opener “Blue & Silver” (anxiety
mounts at a quick clip until the final climactic release) to “Plastic & Powder” (a churning, narcotic slow-burner) to “Hospice Gates” (penultimate album cut, proud weirdo anthem, possible creative zenith), not one is a space-taker. They’re rife with the survivalist paranoia you’d expect from residents of a post-urban port hole (and this particular songwriter), crafted methodically and beautifully, and carry you enthusiastically out into the rolling breaks of industrial filth-water.
Lower Dens formed in 2009, when Hunter set about finding a full-time band. They spent the rest of the year sweating in attics and basements, and only stepped out of the shadows to do a quick tour and record. Twin-Hand Movement was recorded by Chris Freeland (ex-Oxes drummer; proprietor of Beat Babies, Baltimore), mixed by Chris Coady (at his DNA, NYC), and mastered by Sarah Register (of the Lodge, NYC and the band Talk Normal.)
LOWER DENS
7.25 Baltimore, MD Whartscape
8.1 Baltimore @ Metro Gallery*
8.2 Bethlehem, PA @ Secret Art Space*
8.3 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie*
8.4 Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands*
8.5 New York, NY Cake Shop*
8.6 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse*
8.7 Brookline, MA @ BATV*
8.8 Winooski, VT @ The Monkey House*
8.9 Portland, ME @ The Apohadion*
8.10 Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo*
8.11 Toronto, ON @ Kapisanan Phillipine Cultural Center*
8.12 Detroit, MI @ Majestic Cafe*
8.13 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern*
8.14 Chicago, IL @ Hideout*
8.17 Madison, WI – Project Lodge
8.18 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
8.20 Iowa City, IA – The Mill
8.22 Lawrence, KS – The Jackpot Saloon
8.23 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
8.24 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
8.25 Nampa, ID – Flying M Coffee
8.26 Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern
8.27 Vancouver, BC – Media Club
8.28 Olympia, WA – Northern
8.29 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
8.30 Sacramento, CA – The Fungarden
8.31 San Francisco, CA – Hotel Utah
9.2 Santa Cruz, CA – Crepe Place
9.3 San Diego, CA – Tin Can Alehouse
9.4 Los Angeles, CA – TBA
9.5 Pioneertown, CA – Pappy and Harriets
9.6 Phoenix, AZ -Trunk Space
9.9 Frisco, TX – Lochranns
9.10 Austin, TX – The Mohawk (outside)
9.11 Houston, TX – Mango’s
9.13 New Orleans, – Circle Bar
9.14 Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder
9.15 Atlanta, GA – 529
9.16 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
* w/ Inoculist
Lower Dens
Twin-Hand Movement
(Gnomonsong)
Street date: July 20, 2010
1. Blue & Silver
2. Tea Lights
3. A Dog’s Dick
4. Holy Water
5. I Get Nervous
6. Completely Golden
7. Plastic & Powder
8. Rosie
9. Truss Me
10. Hospice Gates
11. Two Cocks
LOWER DENS LINKS:
MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/lowerdens
Press Materials – http://www.gnomonsong.com/lowerdens/