Lower Dens were an American indie rock group formed in Baltimore, Maryland. The band was founded in 2010 by Jana Hunter, an indie folk artist associated with Devendra Banhart. Lower Dens mark a significant change from this background, trafficking as they variously did in Dream Pop, nu-gaze, Kraut Rock, and eighties-inspired Synth-Pop.
The band went through a few guitarists and a couple of drummers, but Hunter and bassist Geoff Graham have been constants. Lower Dens toured with Yo La Tengo and with Baltimore neighbors Beach House.
Lower Dens broke up in 2021.
Discography
- Twin Hand Movement (2010)
- Nootropics (2012)
- Escape from Evil (2015)
The band provides examples of:
- Epic Rocking: “In the End is the Beginning” is over twelve minutes.
- Foreign Language Title: Escape from Evil contains two songs with Latin titles (“Quo Vadis”, “Non Grata”), and one with French (“Societé Anonyme”).
- Important Haircut: Hunter has worn his hair medium long as a solo artist. When leading Lower Dens, he tended to wear it short as part of an overall more androgynous look.
- Lead Bassist: Geoff Graham, as a prominent player, cofounder of the band, and provider of spooky harmony vocals.
- The Singularity: The band read up on the subject while working on Nootropics, reflected in some songs like the AI-themed “Brains”.
- Surreal Music Video: Is “Candy”
surreal enough for you?
