LOWLINE

Next Single Gun in My Side Released 13/04/2009
NME Single Review 11/10/2008
Manchester is a funny place. Few places are so full of musical heritage, and with that comes expectation; something which has been unfulfilled in recent times. The city has been crying out for something genuinely new that can make a real impact: a band that draws inspiration from the city’s legacy, whilst still moving it forward. Enter the cities newest heroes: Lowline.
Lowline are intense and sinister yet totally up lifting. They are group of mates in their early twenties who formed in the spring of 2007 and spent the rest of that year writing, locked away in a warehouse in Manchester’s less-than-glamorous Ancoats district. There are flashes of inspiration from cult legends The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, but they strike a rare balance between razor sharp rock and roll, and epic shoegaze. Lowline’s intense guitar sound is underpinned by tribal house tinged drums and fuzzed up bass lines, as all combine to make something with energy, atmosphere and spirit.
Their sound embodies the atmosphere of their City, whilst remaining distinctive and innovative, a combination that sets them apart from the usual bunch of shanty-chanting mockneys, and shows clearly that this is the start of something special. Their sound impressed renowned oasis and the verve producer Owen Morris so much, that he immediately took the band into the studio and recorded some tracks over many late nights.
The first yield from this session saw their debut single Monitors, a timeless indie anthem which harbors Morris’s distinct style. It was released in April 08 on 1-2-3-4 Records (Whitey, The Bishops) with the reverse side being taken up by the driving and relentless Last Chance. This massive debut grabbed the eye of DJ’s, journalists and audiences alike, as the band found places on the playlists of Zane Lowe, Colin Murray, Huw Stevens and Jon Kennedy whilst featuring on the pages of NME, The Sun and The Guardian.
Live, the band are immense. They have crafted a rip-roaring show and brim with energy and confidence, which combined with their dance sensibility that has seen them demanding attention at shows across the country. Tours with The Enemy and Happy Mondays have seen Lowline continue to cultivate an ardent fan base, and as tales still spread about their recent warehouse parties in Manchester (which have guested the likes of The Verve’s Nick McCabe) many more have sat up and taken notice.
They now embark upon a vigorous touring schedule throughout the next few months in support of their follow up single, The Sound of Music, set to be released in September 2008. Lowline will also find time this autumn to return to the studio to continue to work on their as yet untitled debut LP.
The word is out and Lowline are quickly becoming one of the UK’s most exciting new prospects, with Mike, Andy, Sam and Robbie intent on carving their own unique place in rock and roll.