Low Birth Weight

Low Birth Weight

Track Listings

1. Snowfall Soon

2. Crown Estate

3. Bad Patient

4. Fun of the Century

5. Birdy Machine

6. Not Fair

7. Dark Secrets Look for Light

8. Snow Drums

9. Shepherds Are Needed

10. I Am the Sub-Librarian

11. Waking Up

Tracks:

Snowfall Soon
Crown Estate
Bad Patient
Fun of the Century
Birdy Machine
Not Fair
Dark Secrets Look for Light
Snow Drums
Shepherds Are Needed
I Am the Sub-Librarian
Waking Up

Album Details

Experimental Pop Music..with Electronic Overtones. Influences Seem to Be a Mixture of Aphex Twin, Belle and Sebastian, Joy Division, and Early Human League.

Customer Reviews:

Low Birth Weight Meets High Expectations.......2004-06-07

Easily one of the most underratd groups in the UK Indie music scene, Glen Johnson's collective Piano Magic has produced it's share of masterpieces, but this is easily the cream of the crop. The mood throughout is sombre and depressing, but also achingly beautiful at the same time. Here Glen takes a back seat in the vocals department in favor of PM regulars such as Caroline Potter. Similar to Artists Rifles, the PM follow-up to Low Birth Weight, several of the songs are merely poetry readings over a simple guitar track. "Snow Drums" is simply a narrative about a ride home from a reahersal (I breathe a canvas on the window/ to write your name on the landscape). "Dark Sectrets Look for Light" is easily the most haunting track on the album (Get me an ugly wife/ no man will look twice/ let me fall asleep at night/ and dream of someone else . . . I went back to the flat/ and found her hanging there/ silk nightdress fallen chair/ I found her hanging there).

Although PM went on to produce some great albums, this will always stand out as their best work and some of the best Indie music to ever come out of the UK

EMULATION BUT GOOD.......2001-03-08

My problem with this album is that it sounds too much like Anne Clark & Vini Reilly (i.e. Durruti column type of soundscapes), early Slowdive era, ... it's just mere emulation, no innovation or genius as other reviewers pointed out. Furthermore anyone out there would prefer listening to the actual innovators: Try Anne Clark "Changing places" or any early Slowdive EP. There are some good moments but it gets tiresome in general, I can't listen to this one from beginning to end, it sounds a little bit dated to me. I happen to own all Piano magic CDs and however I must admit this is their best work alongside the ambient Blissed out which is quite different from this one. If you're longing for this type of ethereal eighties releases buy this CD to complete your collection, if you're fond of bland This mortal coil post-It'll end in tears CDs this one's for you too.

Glen Johnson is probably a genius........2000-05-23

This `99 release sounds like some lost `80's masterpiece of dark atmospherics and sweetly gloomy pop. Wonderful and eerie, experimental and dreamy, trance and organic psychedelia in a mix of male and female vocals. Bringing to mind: Deux Filles, Strawberry Switchblade, Durutti Column, Anna Domino and such contemporary outfits as; Hood, Jessamine, Current 93, Tindersticks, and Lambchop's darkest musings. Piano, not so much, Magic, much indeed. Twilight drawing room's shifting ambience and slowly emerging details, keep this sound/song tapestry consistently captivating.

Pure genius!.......1999-08-05

Glen Johnson has done it again - using guest vocalists to flesh out his stories (Raechel Leigh from Baby Birkin, Simon Rivers from Bitter Springs, Caroline Potter, Jen Adam) and musician friends from post-rock's intelligentsia (State River Widening, ISAN, Icebreaker, The Wisdom of Harry) - he creates a world of unrequited longing and heartbreak. The textural soundwashes caress the listener as the words cut the soul in two with their loneliness. The difference from the last PM release, _Popular Mechanics_ seems emotionally radical. There's a sensuality & warmth that contrasts with the distance of the earlier work. It seems that Johnson has found his heart and lost it again... Lovemaking/Breakup album of the year. Standout tracks: "Snowfall Soon," "Not Fair," "I Am The Sub-Librarian" A brilliant accomplishment.