Album of the Month, October 2022: Long Division - Low

From here on, this recurring blog segment will highlight an album released in the given month that has been a source of inspiration or otherwise was notable in my listening. However, October 2022 was probably the first month in maybe 2 years during which i did not have time to listen to a single new album, due to the tunnel-vision towards my graduation recital.

Instead, I thought I would dedicate the first post to the late Mimi Parker of Low & highlight one of my favourite records of theirs. Whilst Double Negative - the band's jaw-dropping 2018 foray into corrupted electronics - remains one of the absolute most important albums in my personal canon, Long Division has been my main source of comfort in the last few weeks. During the preparation of my recital I did not have the capacity to listen to new music, but I still had to listen to something on the 35 minute drive to and from Uni nearly every day. I found this album, with its longing simplicity and understated-yet-crushing emotion, to be a much needed way to siphon out a lot of the stress and fear i was feeling.

Right after the recital, I heard about Mimi's passing, and the record took on yet more weight. It was heartbreaking news on all levels, even more so because it felt like the voice that had eased me through recent anxieties had vanished along with the final deadline. In the week since the news I have continued to listen to this album repeatedly, as well as their entire, 25-year spanning, completely spotless discography.

The song attached here was the first song in this extensive and timeless catalogue in which Mimi took the spotlight, singing completely unaccompanied other than by their typically yearning combination of ride cymbal, snare, bass, and guitar. She has been - and will continue to be - such a wondrous healing force in my life, as well as in the lives of many others. Thank you forever Mimi Parker <3