Nirvana and Low special episode of Hot Press Classics out now

Hot Press Classics returns today with a new instalment focusing on two Steve Albini-produced albums: Nirvana's In Utero from 1993 and Low's Things We Lost In The Fire from 2001.

In the episode, Paul Nolan and special guest Kilian Murphy explore Low's legendary soft sound, their importance in the emergence of the slowcore genre, as well as their uniquely atmospheric live shows.

They also speak about Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker's fruitful collaboration, the evolution of the band's sound, and Mimi's tragic passing in 2022.

Speaking of Nirvana, Nolan and Murphy examine Kurt Cobain's discomfort with mainstream success following the release of their celebrated album Nevermind, the gritty quality of In Utero and its capacity to still maintain impressive melodic flair.

Elsewhere, they study the darkness of In Utero's lyrical content, the ferociousness of its mix and the exponential legacy of the record

Additionally, the duo also discuss Steve Albini's production work on both records, his extraordinary ability to emphasise a band's raw sound and his enduring legacy.

Find out about this and more in this week's episode, which you can check out below or on Apple Podcasts.

This episode was produced by Paul Nolan and edited by Flo Laurent.