Some Way To Reach The Other Side

Low “What Part of Me”

This is a very adult sort of pop song, and it calls back to an era in which adult contemporary pop was also mainstream pop, and not totally synonymous with sentimental bombast. “What Part of Me” reminds me specifically of the more mellow and restrained Phil Collins/Genesis hits, which framed very warm melodies in cold synths and tense electronic percussion, and were generally about people in long term relationships trying to solve emotional conflicts with honest communication. Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker sing the song in parallel harmony but rarely fully overlap, which is perfect for a song in which they’re kinda looking just past each other and wondering “what part of me don’t you know?” and trying to figure out what it’d take to realign perfectly. The arrangement hits just the right balance of airiness and rhythmic tension, indicating conflict but nothing particularly intense. My favorite detail here is the low feedback buzz that almost subliminally lingers in the background of parts of the track, like some strange feeling that’s not fully formed enough to articulate or understand.

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