Lowtide - Southern Mind

Rice Is Nice - RIN047

Blending upbeat dream pop with melancholy shoegaze, the band create a complex and compelling sound. Their signature layers of melody belie the ferocious heart within, enhanced by fleshed-out lyrical motifs and mesmerising vocal harmonies.

Lowtide first began to crystallise into existence in 2009, with Gabriel Lewis exploring ambient, textured guitar tones in his solo recordings. In 2010, the outfit expanded into its current line-up to form Lowtide, with bassist/vocalist Lucy Buckeridge and drummer Anton Jakovljevic joining the fold, alongside former member Giles Fielke, who departed the band following the completion of the new record.

Lowtide's self-titled debut album, which was released via Lost & Lonesome in July 2014, truly defined their sound and was met with critical acclaim, including a four star review in Rolling Stone who wrote; "The album houses a perfect mix of the driving and drifting, with songs changing shape right before our ears".

That album, alongside their Julia/Spring 7'', got a second lease of life in 2016 with an international release via London label Opposite Number, and went on to feature in Rough Trade's Best Albums of 2016.

The band have since embarked on Australian and UK/EU tours, been nominated for The AMP (Australian Music Prize), received international support via BBC 6 Music, Henry Rollins (KCRW) and more. They have played several festivals including End Of The Road Festival in the UK and NZ's Camp A Low Hum.

Now, with a new label signing to Rice Is Nice, Lowtide are gearing up to release their much-awaited sophomore album Southern Mind. The album was recorded at The Aviary Studios in Victoria in the winter of 2017, and is what the band describe as an organic progression from their previous releases.

Southern Mind takes on the theme of "South" and "Southern", but the album can be translated in a variety of ways and in different contexts; from landscape to the current state of the country, a collective mindset or their direct experiences. The songs "Alibi" and "Fault Lines" are both about relationships heading south, but the idea goes further than location or direction. As singer and bass player Lucy Buckeridge explains, "South can be a positive thing, a change."

"Alibi", the first single to be lifted from the album is about facing the reality of a relationship burning out and the decision to leave or to stay. The track was premiered via The Line of Best Fit, who described it as, "an effortlessly dreamy affair", with the accompanying video being premiered via Clash Magazine, commending Lowtide's, "beautifully brooding songwriting".

Southern Mind is a startlingly stunning album, bursting with ambition and tension, loud yet restrained, from a band with the elegance and passion to create something truly remarkable.

Side A:
Southern Mind 06:16
Alibi 04:02
Elizabeth Tower 03:43
A. C 06:15

Side B:
Olinda 02:04
On The Fence 04:58
The Fear 05:47
Window 05:52
Fault Lines 04:22

• We are a small independent record store that's been selling new vinyl records in Melbourne, Australia since 2011
• All delivery orders are shipped for $8.95 with Australia Post and include tracking
• Pickup is availble from 461 High St Northcote. This is a free option during checkout
• We go to extreme lengths to make sure our customers are happy
• We use the best mailers available with lots of space for corner protection, and we make sure orders are packed tightly to avoid seam splits
• We ship almost all orders within 1 business day (excluding special or preorder products)
• If there are any issue with an order due to damage, delivery issues or faulty discs we cover all costs associated with replacing and/or returning items
• We're happy to give free expert advice about turntables and hi-fi including setup and playing issues
• If you want to get in touch, email info@thornburyrecords.com. If you would like to talk to us on the phone, send an email requesting a call back