Low 'You May Need A Murderer' dvd

I used to be a really devout Low fan. To the extent that, on the 'Trust' tour, I saw them play live four times in a week, effectively following them around the country. They were one of my favourite bands at that time, I loved the sound the three of them made- Alan Sparhawk on vocals and guitar, the fantastic Zak Sally on bass and Mimi Parker on drum(s) and beautifully sung vocals. They made a run of three albums ('Secret Name', 'Things We Lost In The Fire' and 'Trust') that were slow, menacing and extraordinarily beautiful. And then it all changed.

Dave Fridmann produced 'The Great Destroyer' and it was at least two louder and much faster, more of a 'rock' record than Low had ever recorded before, it had some great songs but also, for the first time, some to skip. The gigs in support of it were great but somehow it felt that something had been lost. Then, Zak Sally, the supremely entertaining and engaging bassist left the band amongst a string of rumours and then cancelled tour dates following the news that Sparhawk had a breakdown and was hospitalised. Last year's 'Drums and Guns' was, for me, the worst Low album to date. Despite the fact that the songs, dark though they were, sounded like traditional, slow Low songs, they were produced (by Fridmann) to within an inch of their lives- all kinds of electronic noise and drum sounds added to them, making it almost impossible to hear the songs beneath all the effects. By all accounts, the songs were played in 'traditional Low style' on tour and sounded very different.

This documentary film features extensive and extremely candid interview with Sparhawk and Parker at their home and also shows concert footage. Sparhawk's mental health and relationship with drugs are focussed on frequently, Parker revealing that she believes trying to 'drive the group' for so long became too stressful and caused his breakdown. The contrast between Alan's role in his local Mormon church and other aspects of his life are a strong feature and seems to be something that he himself is grappling with, "nobody is listening to God anymore, and the people who say they are, are liars" he says, with some feeling.

It is a fascinating insight into these two people's lives and what drives their band. Sparhawk admits that he can't sing as well as Parker and she, in turn, says that she would never have been a part of the band were it not for him, revealing that he bought her first drumset for her.

Incidentally the stunning live version of 1999's 'Two Step' here, reminds me that this is perhaps still Low's greatest song, whilst the live version of 'Breaker' devoid of all the electronics and containing some brutal guitar is a significant improvement.

The footage of Sparhawk and Parker at home and at their Church remind you how unique Low are as a band and Sparhawk shows himself to be an even deeper thinker you'd imagine. Fans of Low may be surprised and disappointed to learn that Zak Sally's departure from the band is not even touched on here, which seems an odd omission considering the amount of unflinching honesty elsewhere. This is, though, a fascinating and engaging documentary about a band of contrasts and contradictions.

8.4