Low Duo
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Low Duo

Sheffield, England, United Kingdom | SELF

Sheffield, England, United Kingdom | SELF
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""A carefully-crafted beauty.""

Low Duo - The EP of Hope and Despair

It happens to every band in the end. Disagreements over musical direction, certain members being less committed than others, or simply everyone ending up hating each other’s guts. Some bands will carry on for the money, others simply implode.

The frustration became too much for Sheffield brothers Adam and Leigh Greenwood, who have emerged from the ashes of their previous outfit Dark Sparks to form their own two-piece outfit Low Duo.

Their first release, The EP of Hope and Despair, comes only a couple of months after their new outfit’s formation, and it is clear Adam and Leigh are enjoying their new-found musical freedom.

With each of the EP’s five songs being made up of just one vocal, one guitar or a keyboard, it is inevitably a relaxed affair but in the words of the band themselves: ‘‘these are songs for the bedroom rather than the nightclub.’’

With this in mind, the intro to opener ‘Fifteen Years’ comes as no surprise with its luscious acoustic guitar textures. But that proves to be a false sense of security as the guitar suddenly breaks in a way comparable to Johnny Marr’s work in The Smiths, signalling a dramatic climax.

Elsewhere, ‘I Want To Die On The Moon’ recalls the romanticism of The Macabees’ second album Wall Of Arms, whilst ‘House On The Hill’ shows a talent for Alex Turner-esque poetic lyrics with a haunting melody. Meanwhile, standout ‘It Was You and Me’ has a carefully-crafted beauty that will see it as a live staple of their future gigs.

The Greenwood brothers are enjoying their musical freedom and it shows on their first EP. With various Sheffield live dates coming up, it would definitely be worth seeing this duo in action for yourself.

7/10

- James Morris - The Ark Magazine


""The raw brilliance of their music echoes through the emotive lyrics giving their songs a subtle anthemic feel. Definitely a band that will take Sheffield by storm.""

LOW DUO
The EP of Hope and Despair

The EP Of Hope And Despair is the first release from Sheffield twosome Low Duo, who take a simple approach to music with their aim being 'to be a highly productive, creative, prolific, and ultimately terrific, musical group.' Having both been in successful yet problematic band, Dark Sparks, Adam & Leigh Greenwood formed Low Duo just two months ago.

Throughout all tracks, the simplicity of the pair's voices and guitars shine through, proving that shunning of spectacular synths and gaudy beats popular in today's mainstream charts is possibly the best decision Low Duo have made. The raw brilliance of their music echoes through the emotive lyrics giving their songs a subtle anthemic feel similar to that we saw from The Temper Trap during festival season.

Comparisons aside it's apparent this band have something ingenious that sets them apart from other newcomers, their haunting yet comforting sound means you are compelled to listen to their music, you want to hear the stories the pair tell."Like A Fly", my personal favourite, is the song that could bring a room into a silent appreciation, and "It Was You And Me" could almost be a crowd singalong track. Low Duo is definitely a band that will take Sheffield by storm with their passion for making simple and emotional music.

- Music Without ID


""The back to basics approach has really worked for these two; absolutely outstanding.""

LOW DUO
The EP of Hope and Despair

After the demise of popular Sheffield outfit Dark Sparks, brothers Adam and Leigh Greenwood have decided to keep everything in-house and formed this new project, titled Low Duo.

They describe their simple tunes as music for the bedroom rather than the nightclub and with each song using only one vocal and one instrument you get the idea of the simplicity.

"Fifteen Years" is the lead track; it's an acoustic number with intricate strumming allowing Leigh's vocal to shine through. Ranging from quiet to passionate, both the vocal and the music leap out at you; it's a lovely song with a sad twist of lost love.

Leigh Greenwood is an excellent lyricist and 'LIke a Fly' is no exception. This type of music really suits his voice, allowing him to take the strain out of his voice and put more feeling into the words he is trying to express. For such a beautiful song it's a little short but if the story's told, it's told, simple.

"I Want to Die on the Moon" has a simple keyboard beat which creates a different direction to their music, it allows them to be slightly more experimental. The repetitive and uncomplicated keys sound makes for an eerie tune but this thought provoking song does work.

Fourth track "House on the Hill" is more upbeat and uplifting than the other tracks; this time the instrument used is the electric guitar, allowing a slightly more aggressive approach, matched all the way by the excellent vocal, whilst last track "It Was You and Me" is a jaunty and quirky track that jumps and ducks in direction. Leigh's almost rasping vocal matches the electricity of the plucking guitar to form a haunting yet beautiful track.

The back to basics approach has really worked for these two; absolutely outstanding.

Daz walsh
- Sheffield Music Scene (issue 20)


""Ace minimalist eerie dark duo with a repertoire of absolute tear jerkers that will rip the heart clean out of your rib cage""

“Ace minimalist eerie dark duo that have a repertoire of absolute tear jerkers that will rip the heart clean out of your rib cage”
- Eighth Word Murder Club


"5/5 "The most beautiful body of music to come out of Sheffield this generation""

LOW DUO
The EP of Hope and Despair *****

Aching and echoing with a recurring theme of desolation, “The EP of Hope and Despair” is the most beautiful body of music to come out of Sheffield this generation. No exaggeration. Fresh from a break with former band ‘Dark Sparks’, brothers Adam and Leigh Greenwood have opted to go it alone and create their own, very distinct sound.

A simplistic approach has allowed vast amounts of room for the powerful allure of lead singer Leigh’s vocals to be recognised. This is especially true of “Like a Fly” and “Fifteen Years”, in which the delicate guitar rhythms contribute a perfect bed for what can only be described as musical poetry. The vocals lead you into a spiraling insight of personal emotion in a way only truly magnificent songwriters ever manage. There are very few bands or talents in the world you can compare to the late Jeff Buckley, but this is certainly one of them.

Throughout the EP you sense other sentiments, both in tone and lyrical content. The powerful “It Was You and Me” seems very much to be a breakup song, mixing scornful verses with a soft chorus and in doing so presenting a roller-coaster ride that anyone who has been in a tough relationship will be able to relate to. Elsewhere, “The House on The Hill” is a perfect final track. Offering a more upbeat rhythm even whilst running on the same dark melancholy lyrical themes and refusing to entertain any form of percussion other than the pulsing guitar.

With the band playing a string of Sheffield based gigs it will be very difficult to miss them in the coming months. In the mean time, “The EP of Hope and Despair” is available to download from iTunes.

Will Hitchmough
- Counterfeit Magazine


Discography

The EP of Hope and Despair (October 2010)
It Was You And Me played on 6Music, BBC Sheffield
Fifteen Years played on BBC Sheffield, The Alternative Hour
Like a Fly played on BBC Sheffield
House on the Hill played on BBC Sheffield

The EP of Fear and Failure (out May 16 2011)

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Bio

Low Duo are two brothers from Sheffield writing darkly emotive minimalist guitar pop music. With a strict rule on composition, every song is written and recorded with only two layers - one voice and one musical instrument.

Formed only in August 2010, the pair are already on the national radar. Picked out by The Guardian as their 'new band of the day' in March 2011 and chosen by Tom Robinson on BBC 6Music for his 'very best of the last 3 months' show, they've also supported BBC Sound of 2011 tip Anna Calvi and John & Jehn.

Low Duo's debut recording 'The EP of Hope and Despair' received a clutch of 5/5 reviews (see right hand side), while their live shows have been equally well received. The brothers' follow up recording 'The EP of Fear and Failure' is released on May 16, with a free taste track 'No Happier' available from May 2.

To buy The EP of Hope and Despair for a 'name your own price' fee or to preorder the second EP visit: http://lowduo.co.uk

"It's pretty intense and it's quite a thrill to see the Greenwood brothers standing in a dimlit room, singing and strumming their dolorous requiems. Low Duo give fresh lustre to that overworked notion of the darkly powerful."
The Guardian, 'new band of the day' no. 986

"A distinctive emotional atmosphere I haven't heard since the first dEUS album - a high, high compliment."
Tom Robinson, BBC 6Music

5/5 "The most beautiful body of music to come out of Sheffield this generation. No exaggeration.
There are very few talents in the world you can compare to the late Jeff Buckley, but this is certainly one of them. Truly magnificent songwriters."
Will Hitchmough, Counterfeit Magazine

“Ace minimalist eerie dark duo that have a repertoire of absolute tear jerkers that will rip the heart clean out of your rib cage”
Eighth Word Murder Club

"8/10 - Beautiful and delicate, there's magic in the space between the notes and in Leigh's haunting and cracked yet powerful voice. Truly magnificent."
Whisperin' and Hollerin'

"Low Duo have stripped back superfluities until all that remains is raw emotion and beautiful tunes to convey it. In this and the poetic emotion power, particularly of opener ‘Fifteen Years’ one can liken the listening experience that perhaps felt by early listeners of The Smiths, tumbling with their tortured soul."
It's All Happening

"From the open emotive string and the dark enthralling vocals, I felt how Columbia Records must have felt when they heard and signed Jeff Buckley - I wanted to start a record label and sign this duo, purely to escalate them into the international alternative chart and share this piece of musical heaven with the world."
Sheffield Scenester Magazine