The Royal Foundry - Little High Little Low (2022) Hi-Res

While Little High Little Low sounds like it belongs to the band, new tones and colours are explored, resulting in a richer, more rewarding listen. The duo’s folk beginnings peek through this set of 11 songs, revealing strumming acoustic guitars and gentle drums that eventually give way to soaring choruses boosted by studio trickery.

The album works best when the music is stringent and frugal rather than being buried under layers of synths and multi-tracked vocals. The first single, Listen to the Beat, is driven by a thrumming guitar lick and lyrics about never compromising. Hello Dreamer Baby shines bright in the tracklist with its buoyant soundtrack, complete with a schoolyard chant about running and not looking back. The title track could be one of the best songs The Royal Foundry has ever recorded as it sways and bounces with more hooks than a tackle shop.

“We wanted to shed light into the emotions we all face on a day to day, hidden or not, and normalize the importance of mental health. For years, we would say to each other, ‘Highs and Lows!’ A comforting statement we shared in reference to our personal lives and the music industry. Experiencing highs and lows is a given, but what’s crucial is learning how to handle them before you get handled.”