Lowland Hum
The title of Virginia art-folk duo Lowland Hum’s new full-length, Glyphonic, plays with the word “glyph,” which means “symbol.” As such, it’s an appropriate name for a record that subtly represents certain aspects of Christianity. Daniel and Lauren Goans, who are husband and wife, come across on Glyphonic as artless exponents of arty folk, and I like their spare, unaffected approach. It takes real commitment to pull off a song like the nearly 14-minute “Family Name,” which appears on their 2011 release BrotherStranger, and several tunes on that record exceed the five-minute mark, working just fine at that length. Daniel’s voice is both innocent and slightly pained, which lends Lowland Hum’s music an edge that more artists often lack. More to the point, their music is often simply beautiful. The Glyphonic track “Raise the Ring” is nature mysticism recast in very human terms — Lauren sings about navigating her neighborhood by remembering the shapes of its lawns. It’s an evocation of the mysteries of childhood that is both knowing and innocent. Portland, Ore., songwriter Anna Tivel will open Tuesday’s show. 7 p.m. at City Winery, 609 Lafayette St. EDD HURT
