Wednesday, June 01, 2011

BOTM June 2011 - LOWLINE

Hailing from The south of the city, Lowline formed in 2007 after a chance meeting at a Fall show. With a similar predeliction for Krautrock and Post-punk including The Chameleons, The Clash and Echo and The Bunnymen, the band soon won a reputation as 'the black sheep' of the Manchester music scene – eschewing traditional venues preferring to set-up their own shows in semi-derelict warehouses in Salford and Ancoats and winning a loyal fanbase in the process. Oasis producer Owen Morris soon caught the scent as did Roses/Primal Scream bassist Mani and The Verve's Nick McCabe.

With two Morris produced, self-released, singles selling out by word of mouth; subsequent airplay by recognized radio stations; tours with The Enemy, The Happy Mondays and The Charlatans followed as did a burgeoning interest from record labels. The band then entered a stage of in-voluntary hiatus caused by simultaneous accidents to both guitarist Andy Hewitt and vocalist Robbie Rush resulting in hospital treatment to both.

Holed up in an Ancoats rehearsal studio for the past eighteen months Lowline have emerged with an album that reflects the city they see, a record of dark, brooding, apocalyptic, psyche-rock. LOWLINE released their long awaited, self-titled debut LP on Saturday May 28th.

**Lowline reached the TOP 10 of Kool Rock Radio's Best New Bands list in 2008 and their singles 'Monitors' and 'Outside' were also included in the TOP 20 Best Tracks the same year. In 2009, 'Gun In My Side' was included in the TOP 20 Best tracks.