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When you have a genuine rock icon like Robert Plant not only taking a shine to you but covering two of your songs and making them infinitely better than your originals, perhaps its a non-verbal cue to completely step up your game. This is the conundrum faced by Duluth, Minnesota slow-core greats Low upon entering the creative process for their latest LP, The Invisible Way. But the trio of Alan Sparhawk, Mimi Parker and Steve Garrington took the unsaid challenge and ran the distance with it, making the group’s 10th album their best work yet, eschewing the molasses drone of their previous formula for a warmer, more acoustic based sound no doubt inspired by its producer Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and his storied Chicago studio The Loft as the soulful intricacy of such songs as opening cut “Plastic Cup”, “Holy Ghost” and “Four Score” can attest. Elsewhere, “Clarence White” pays rootsy homage to the late Byrds guitarist, while “To Our Knees” showcases the vocal beauty of Parker, who evokes Laura Nyro at her most atmospheric on this gorgeous closing ballad. Perhaps Low should one-up Mr. Plant at his own game can cover the likes of “Heaven Knows” and “Tall Cool One” next.
