the Down Lowe

CD Review from San Fran Voice, 8-22-07:
Different. That's the word I'm thinking of as I listen to The Down Lowe's 2006 CD Listen Up. It's different from anything else I've heard lately, especially anything coming out of the Bay Area. And since San Francisco is all about appreciating those who are different, I'd say that's a good thing. But let me clarify to say that by "different", I don't mean "weird. I just mean different.
Much of the difference comes from the fact that The Down Lowe combines the vocals of a solo singer with the full support of a band and the skills of a DJ. I've never heard such a seamless blending of a DJ's talent with the rest of the work of a band. When the two are merged, I usually hear one stand out over the other (either the DJ is lost in the midst or the whole thing sounds like it might as well have been mastered by one guy). Not so with The Down Lowe … this isn't a band and a DJ, it's a band with a DJ. The synthesizers actually synthesize the sound and pull everyone together as a group.
The other thing that's really notable about Listen Up is the way that a vast number of musical influences merge together in just seven tracks. For example, there's almost an R'nB flavor to "Eros", followed by a folk-pop flavor in "Super Yo" and then more of a classic rock sound in "Take Me Home". At other times, there's the hint of spoken word that's more like certain ska bands have done than what poets are doing. And then there's instrumental stretches that flirt with electronica. There's a little bit of a lot of stuff … and a whole lot of talent.
It takes something special to be able to be different without being strange. The Down Lowe has that something special. Check out their website and their MySpace page for more information and to buy the CD yourself. Or go see the live show August 25th at Ireland's 32.