When Slowcore legends Low moved to legendary Indie-Rock label Sub Pop for 2005's The Great Destroyer, Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker hired super-producer Dave Fridmann to give the duo a more full, lush and approachable sound. Fridmann did just that, but Destroyer found the band in uncharted waters and while it was still decent, Destroyer suffered from being wildly uneven at times. For Drums and Guns, Fridmann is still behind the boards, but Sparhawk and Parker it seem to have invited Fridmann to come down their own personal rabbit hole that is that trademark Low sound.

Drums is a reversal of form towards past Low works, but if you listen closely there is subtle yet sneaky vocal genius at work here. True, Drums and Guns' songs go by at a snails pace like prime mid-90's Low, but Fridmann makes sure Sparhawk and Parker's harmonies are front and center and they've never sounded more gorgeous. Sure, Fridmann gets in a few of his own trademark elements such as the string arrangements in the middle of "Belarus" or the organ-work on "Breaker" but mostly Fridmann stays out of the way and leaves Sparhawk and Parker to their own devices.

"Dragonfly" with its eerie tape loops is creepily compelling and "Your Poison" is just long enough to sting you in your heart then slithers away quickly and disappears. Sparhawk even finds a sense of humor on the silly "Hatchet." With a snaky guitar lick, Sparhawk sneers "Let's bury the hatchet like the Beatles and the Stones." Drums and Guns smartly saves its best for last however. "In Silence," "Murderer" and "Violent Past" are the best three closing tracks in the history of Low's now eight studio albums and they just makes me beam with joy every time I get to the tail end of side B. A truly great record leaves listeners clamoring for more and Drums does exactly that. Can't wait to see what this pair does for yet another welcome future encore. Heres hoping they stick to their guns.