Customer Reviews

Owl (Low Remixes)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I like Low, but I favor electronic music more than most folk-based music. If you're no fan of electronic music and were trying to complete your Low collection, this would be for completist purposes only. It sounds nothing like Low's normal mellow and silky recordings.

That out of the way, I like most of the mixes on this EP. I have all the earlier Neotropic discs, and Riz's three efforts here were very comparable to 15 Levels / Ultra Freaky era NeoT.

However, the best mixes on the disc are both of Over the Ocean - and they're probably the only two mixes fans of "normal" Low would give more than two or three stars...

If you like Ninja Tune / N-Tone bands, or generally laid-back experimental electro or chillout, well worth it. If not, maybe just snag the Over the Ocean variations.

Low's consistently minimal aesthetic is too tempting for admirers not to remix, cover, and in some cases immolate. There are so many suggestions of bell-like tones, submerged beats and erased tracks in their album material that when collaborators like Neotropic and Skull Valley Dub are allowed to tweak and augment, many of these seemingly drowned sounds bubble to the surface.

While some of the remixers on this collection take a more minimal approach that sounds like the band itself -- but in an extremely insular or experimental mode -- a few remixes go in an opposite direction like the busy but confectionary remix of "Over The Ocean," with its percolating horns and sliced-and-diced vocals.

Overall, the album remains calming even though rife with textures and beats.

As other reviews have noted, this is perhaps not the best starting point in the Low catalog, though it is of interest to fans or those who like unconventional electronic collaborations.

I love live music, but even more so the ethereal haunting edge that only LOW can deliver. I also have been a big fan of the Dance/Electronica scene, and this album seemed to promise as intriguing fusion of both styles . Unfortunatley LOW'S incredible music has been swept aside by nieve immature non musicianship of amazing ineptitude. If this were just a cheap DnB album it would of been cast aside in the bargain bin along with countless other albums of Lift music. This is not LOW, just some a hopeless attempt to steal some light from one of the most incredible bands around. GO buy Trust, Things we lost in the fire or Secret Name .. and really experience LOW.

After you listen to this once, chances are you will never listen to it again. I actually made two attempts, but I was even more disheartened after the second. This CD probably doesn't deserve any stars, but I gave it one because if you're a diehard Low fan, Owl still a "fun" thing to have. It'll make a good conversation piece if you ever have another Low fan over for dinner.

I'm quite confused by this album. Why would anyone WANT to remix Low's beautiful music? Why not leave it be? It's amazing, and remixes couldn't do anything but take away from that. There are a few remixes on here which are ok, like Porter Ricks remix of Down, and even the Party Remix of Over The Ocean isn't bad, as long as you don't think about the original version. Most of the songs on here sound like a bunch a wall of noise, some drum beats and occasionally some piece of a Low song. If your looking for a good remix cd of this genreof music, you won't find it here (and I'd be surprised if you find a decent one at all) and those just interesed in Low being remixed, you will most likely be let down.

I can only repeat what others already have stated...
This record could maybe please some electronica fans, but if you're a Low fan, you probably won't like this.
The remixes seem "cheap" and I feel the end result could have been better.

i'm a long time fan of low and i also love electronic music. sure this cd will come as a shock to harcore low fans but, it's really not that bad. also, alan told me personally at a show in atl. when the cd was released that, "he did not have a problem with the artists" he said nothing about not liking the mixes. sure electronica artists on other labels like morr music, fat cat or even kranky could have done better but, hey! the fact that the project ever happened with such diverse styles is a plus in that idea alone! buy it used, i bet you will like at least 2 songs!

i'm a long time fan of low and i also love electronic music. sure this cd will come as a shock to harcore low fans but, it's really not that bad. also, alan told me personally at a show in atl. when the cd was released that, "he did not have a problem with the artists" he said nothing about not liking the mixes. sure electronica artists on other labels like morr music, fat cat or even kranky could have done better but, hey! the fact that the project ever happened with such diverse styles is a plus in that idea alone! buy it used, i bet you will like at least 2 songs!

I'd only recommend this album after purchasing (in order of release dates) I could live in hope, Long division, Transmission (ep), Curtain hits the cast, and Songs for a dead pilot (ep). This album is ok, especially for background music. It's just that all of the spiritual gravity behind the songs seems to have gotten mixed out as some otherwise capable people tried to bring Low to the masses.

Not bad, but not great. Remix albums continually fall victim to the distruction of brilliant material. As far as 'Owl' is concerned, "Over the Ocean" should have been left alone! Other than that, there are some interesting new visions pressent from the album 'I Could Live In Hope' which I rarely listened to before 'Owl.' Particularly Jimmy Somerville's remix of "Words," which is typical Somerville, but holds a decent contemporary club feel. Aside from the "Over the Ocean" remixes, the album is pretty good for Low listeners to rediscover the hooks and drama that made us like them in the first place. Another remix album along the same lines to check out is Swirlies - Strictly East Coast Sneaky Flute Music.