Low

Keep on the shelf next to your kava root extract, melatonin and "Sleepy Time" tea. The downy-soft sounds of Low can be soporific, but if you're willing to fend off a few yawns for a closer listen, this band offers a rich return in the purely sublime. Lovely, gossamer fare perfect for marking the southerly migration of raindrops down your bedroom window. Music so delicate, you'll find yourself involuntarily holding your breath lest a mere exhalation muddle its placid surface. Drums consist of little more than a cymbal set atremble and a feather-dusted snare. Guitars stretch themselves, but never fully awake from their Lotus slumbers. Your listening mind slows to endure the chill, curling up next to Mimi Parker's and Alan Sparhawk's breathy vocals for their residual warmth. Long Division (1995) was a defining moment for Slowcore, and since then Low have continued to richen and mature without changing their minimalist approach.