Lowlife

[Brett]

Had a massive Lowlife session last night. Burning a CD-R compilation from analogue (vinyl). I don't play records much so it was a real joy hearing stuff like 'Swing' and 'A sullen sky' again.

That's it

pimp

[Maria Jose]

Good , weren't they ?

[Brett]

Originally posted by Maria Jose
Good , weren't they ?

Yes. Initially I thought they were rather average. EG on Rain and Permanent Sleep but Diminuendo was wonderous.

[mattadore]

Whoops, and here I was thinking you were referring to the New Order LP of the same nomenclature... incidentally, probably my favorite New Order long-player, with "Power, Corruption, & Lies" a close second...

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002L7S.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Maria Jose]

Originally posted by Brett


Yes. Initially I thought they were rather average. EG on Rain and Permanent Sleep but Diminuendo was wonderous.

Diminuendo is a great piece of work !

ballerina

[Colin]

For those who haven't enjoyed Will Heggie's other band, how would you describe this sound? I presume these are long out of print??

[Maria Jose]

From Trouser Press :
So that you have an idea . . .



LOWLIFE
Rain EP (UK Nightshift) 1985
Permanent Sleep (UK Nightshift) 1986
Diminuendo (UK Nightshift) 1987
Swirl, It Sings EP (UK Nightshift) 1987
From a Scream to a Whisper (UK Nightshift) 1989
Godhead (UK Nightshift) 1989

After leaving the Cocteau Twins in 1983, bassist Will Heggie formed this quartet and continued playing atmospheric Scottish indie-pop, albeit in a somewhat darker hue. The Rain EP sets ringing, occasionally clashing, guitars and echoey deadpan vocals into long, rhythmically charged songs (some in a minor key) whose deep and dramatic vocals (by Craig Lorentson) contain a solemn trace of Joy Division.

Permanent Sleep delves deeper into instrumental and vocal textures, with layers of strummed and picked guitar and slippery bass chords (shades of New Order) dominating the sound. Despite Lowlife's concentration on ambience, the affecting "Wild Swan" is a lovely song, punctuated by repeated guitar triplets fluttering overhead.

The aptly titled and excellent Diminuendo reduces Lowlife's volume by stripping the arrangements of their thickening ingredients, leaving only the bass, simple drums and frugal bits of guitar and keyboards to support Lorentson's increasingly ambitious and musical vocals. (The octave-jumping falsetto in "Big Uncle Ugliness" and commanding power of "Licking Ones Eyes" are indicative of his expanding stylistic range.) While opening up the sound does wonders for some songs (including "From Side to Side," "Wonders Will Never Cease" and "Tongue Tied and Twisted," which really sounds like a New Order track), the results can also be too dreamy, leaving tracks without luster.

The four disappointing new songs on Swirl, It Swings sound like outtakes from Diminuendo, only with feeble drumming and grandiose vocals. Named for a phrase scratched into one of Diminuendo's run-off grooves, From a Scream to a Whisper is a 1985-'88 compilation containing most of the 1987 EP plus several tracks from each of the three prior records.

Succumbing to the excesses of Lorentson's newly dramatized vocal style, Godhead also marks a partial return to the early records' busy instrumentation. While understandably moving to erase the New Order comparisons, the misnamed Godhead lacks the emotional drive that sparks all of Lowlife's other albums and winds up labored and dull, a collection of unaffecting songs that plod — even at brisk tempos.

[Maria Jose]

And check this link where it says that . . .

Will and Grant now are busy with large families and day jobs. Will has 3 boys and works as a Process Operative.

And , this was April 2002,

I'm proud to announce that Lowlife are planning a "one off" performance in the heart of Grangemouth, Scotland in this very soon month of August.

Wonder if it really happened . . . No,I read it was cancelled .
Anyway , check the BBC videos and hear Will's trademark bassline !

http://www.permanentsleep.com/band_content.html

[Brett]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Maria Jose
[B]From Trouser Press :

Not bad. I have read it before actually. Was it Jack Rabid or Ira? Most of the time I tend to concur with Trouser Press and as such forgive those guys their pretensions. In this case I thougt they were way off course regarding the Swirl EP. IMO that is 4 of their best songs. Not remotely like out-takes. Imagine if somebody said Sunburst and Snowblind was a poor collection of album out-takes!

I'd add that Craigs lyrics were highly poetic IMO but his vocal won't suit everybody. Heggies bass playing is fairly typical of him and there are some great guitars.

If you see Diminuendo or the collection From a scream to a whisper, I'd swoop if I were you.

Cheers MJ
:)

[Maria Jose]

Did you check the videos , Brett ??

ballerina

[Brett]

Originally posted by Maria Jose
Did you check the videos , Brett ??

ballerina

No I haven't yet. I remember them on TV (maybe The Tube?) when they couldn't release their new songs because of Nightshift records and it was "so frustrating". They were lovely songs too those when they came out on the Black Sessions.

I do go over to permanent sleep site once in a while so I'll have a look at the vids.

BTW That gig was cancelled. I was going!:(

[Iwan]

Their CDs are going for a good rate at eBay.

If anyone is interested, I have most of their vinyl records available (not too expensive). All in excellent quality, most in like new condition. I'm just trying to size down my collection a bit.... pm me if you're interested

[Colin]

Thanks for the detailed info, MJ.

I nominate you to be the board's Director of Research. Of course, my nominations dont count for much. . . ;)

[someotherian]

anybody want to buy Permanent Sleep on vinyl?