The Low In Between are an interesting Boston band with an interesting CD. Simply titled Apart, it is brimming with fine nuggets of guitar and vocals in an alt-country manner. Yet, the rhythm section on each track make their own impression. All four continuously come together as four solid cornerstones in a sound that is hard to pigeonhole as country, classic rock, or roots rock. The main line up is singer-songwriter-lead guitarist Rich Rodgur, guitarist David Hinkley, and bass player Ed Spargo. There is also a bus load of guest musicians on board helping Mr. Podgur flesh out his exciting lyrical visions.
Opening track “Apart” manages to be at once dreamy and flinty. The tune echoes with sweeping flourishes of sounds while one can feel the flint in thin, brittle guitar chords and persistent percussion. The vocal has a unique timbre as Podgur drawls out a loose, breezy vibe. A lead guitar chimes in with an eccentric twist to complete the freshness of this work.
“Christine” bops in with enticing guitar and understated rhythm section. A quiet lead vocal hovers over the instruments with a haunting presence. That voice can tell a story with its timbre alone. Podgur sounds as damaged as the forlorn guitar notes imply. It is easy for a listener to lose himself in this world of gentle expression.
A lead guitar traipses through the mild plains of “Back To Your Wind.” Guitar and voice running smoothly alongside one another creates a sense of companionship, which compliments how the singer sounds like he’s talking directly to the listener. Brittle guitar notes and a smooth, flowing lead vocal contrast brilliantly, pushing each other to deliver more grist for this song.
A slight country flavor makes “Sunk In Deep” feel homey and amicable which perfectly suits the quirky lyrics to this unusual love song. Chirpy vocals and a brittle, honey flavored guitar line wrap around everything with a warmth that makes the whole thing feel sincere despite its dark wit.
“Chains And Mad Hatters” begins with enticing guitar curls and a rhythm section build up before it comes to a massive crescendo at the end. Like the better slow boils, this one hits hard in down tempo mode first. A lead vocal maintains a level of seriousness and prettiness at once while the rhythm section moves it forward with steady, smacking persistence. A lead guitar hits notes that ring with rippling overtones, something that feels injected with more than just the notes themselves.
The easeful pace of “Save A Place” allows a lot of space for a lead vocal to breathe, ferment, its gentle glide being full of feeling, expression. There is a also plenty of room for a lead guitar to strut its unique magic sound in an enticing break. It skips along its merry way with an edge backing its jaunty appeal.
Only true musicians and singer-songwriters have the talent to draw listeners into a darker world and keep them there. It‘s a matter of setting the scene, the mood, and telling a story in a way so the harrowing account remains relatable no matter how unlikely. “Dying Day” is a down tempo tale of multiple woes shaded nicely dark by The Low In Between guys. An understated vocal, a minor key lead guitar, and a spread of organ notes form into a harrowing backdrop for the dire stories unfolding.
“Annie” takes the band into a warm, alt-country atmosphere, and it shows the band’s strength at ensemble work. A chirpy lead vocal and a tight musicianship between the others form into a thick, tuft of welcoming music. There is a wave of sound created by the rising and falling chord progression that adds a lot to the joyful feeling of this music.
“Fools Parade” returns the CD to the darker tones and story approach. A low slung vocal simmers with foreboding before becoming a plaintive cry against a harrowing fate. An acoustic guitar strums like it’s on a mission, and that is a beautiful compliment to the forlorn vocal.
Closing track “Damned I’ll Be” builds into a suspenseful rock and roll drama. A tense lead vocal simmers over rippling, flinty electric guitar, erupting into a force of nature during this tune’s chorus. It’s fun to hear how this outfit takes us along in their exciting journey through words and sounds.
The Low In Between are off to a fantastic start with this Apart debut. Like a pile of burning logs in a huge fireplace, there is much crackling in their timber. Every track makes the listener want to follow closely the musical details that go into these steady tunes with earnest, sometimes direful lyrics. This band can go over with the singer-songwriter crowd as well as he roots rock and indie rock scenes. Produced by Rich Podgur and Ello DeLuca at The Soul Shop in Medford, Massachusetts, it has a clarity of sound that lets every note perk, snap, crackle, and pop.
