SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE LOW ANTHEM – THE SALT DOLL WENT TO MEASURE THE DEPTH OF THE SEA

The Low Anthem
The Salt Doll Went To Measure The Depth Of The Sea
Joyful Noise Recordings

Both haunting and full of raw beauty, The Salt Doll Went to Measure the Depth of the Sea, The Low Anthem’s fifth full length LP with Joyful Noise Recordings, combines acoustic sound and electronic ambience to create a courageous 12 track album.

The shorter tracks manage to capture what it really means to create songs that stick, especially with “River Brine”, which screams silently through melodic vocals from Ben Knox Miller, the lead vocalist of the 4-member group. Miller also added in percussive elements using vinyl centre loops, becoming a key element of the entire album.

The acoustic riffs call back to the band’s roots of a more folk-like sound, but with additions of subtle electronics as well as sounds created with unconventional instrumental devices such as chopsticks beat on the edge of a paper bag, done by Jeff Prystowsky, The Low Anthem creates a riveting quietness full of emotionally rich tunes.

In “Give My Body Back”, the lyrical genius combined with the simplistic sound of vinyl spinning transport the listener back to a simpler, more Simon and Garfunkel time of music and poetic expression—but with the addition of the synths and electronics throughout, a whole new sound is created, able to stand on its own two feet.

With Florence Grace Wallis’ back-up vocals and violin, and Rachel Blumberg on percussion, the band manages to create an increasingly layered sound unlike anything heard from them before. Bryan Minto didn’t record with the band, but can be found on tour showing off his back-up guitar and harmonica chops to the fans.

The Salt Doll Went to Measure the Depth of the Sea is an album that can only be appreciated by those who truly understand the importance of musical expression through delicate lyricism, masterful production, and the classic storytelling music today so desperately lacks.

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