dirgelike

He revisited his classic cover of Calvin Massey’s stout, dirgelike “Cry of My People,” and the swiveling rock beat of “Blues for Brother George Jackson” from the “Attica Blues” LP.

Island Records turned it down - Blackwell recalled in his autobiography that the initial demo was "dirgelike" - but it went on to become one of the most successful singles of all time, selling more than 10 million copies worldwide.

With the couple trading ethereal vocal harmonies over dirgelike tempos and shimmering sonic textures, Low drew inspiration from the 1980s gloom rock of bands like Joy Division and from the Velvet Underground’s artfully dissonant early period.

Though it has no legal standing, “Aotearoa” appears in New Zealanders’ passports; in the country’s radio and television news broadcasts; in the dirgelike national anthem; and on the back of its plastic dollar bills.

It’s stirring, dirgelike and richly imagistic stuff.